Дисертації з теми "AGD tuning"

The Accelerator Test Facility (ATF2) at KEK, Japan, aims to experimentally verify the local chromaticity correction scheme designed to achieve a vertical beam size of 37 nm. The facility is a scaled down version of the final focus design proposed for the future linear colliders. In order to achieve this goal, high precision tuning methods and orbit correction techniques are being developed. Experimental studies were planned and undertaken in order to discover and compensate for sources of emittance growth in the extraction region of ATF2. Global Single Value Decomposition (SVD)-based orbit correction algorithms have been developed and optimised for the ATF2 extraction line and final focus. A novel method known as the 'rotation matrix' method has been developed for the spot-size tuning of ATF2 in order to achieve a nanometre-scale beamsize. The tuning algorithms used at ATF2 will provide an important input for future linear colliders (including the International Linear Collider (ILC) and Compact Linear Collider (CLIC)).

The aim of this thesis was to investigate some important key factors able to promote the prospected growth of the aquaculture sector. The limited availability of fishmeal and fish oil led the attention of the aquafeed industry to reduce the dependency on marine raw materials in favor of vegetable ingredients. In Chapter 2, we reported the effects of fishmeal replacement by a mixture of plant proteins in turbot (Psetta maxima L.) juveniles. At the end of the trial, it was found that over the 15% plant protein inclusion can cause stress and exert negative effects on growth performance and welfare. Climate change aroused the attention of the aquafeed industry toward the production of specific diets capable to counteract high temperatures. In Chapter 3, we investigated the most suitable dietary lipid level for gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) reared at Mediterranean summer temperature. In this trial, it was highlighted that 18% dietary lipid allows a protein sparing effect, thus making the farming of this species economically and environmentally more sustainable. The introduction of new farmed fish species makes necessary the development of new species-specific diets. In Chapter 4, we assessed growth response and feed utilization of common sole (Solea solea L.) juveniles fed graded dietary lipid levels. At the end of the trial, it was found that increasing dietary lipids over 8% led to a substantial decline in growth performance and feed utilization indices. In Chapter 5, we investigated the suitability of mussel meal as alternative ingredient in diets for common sole juveniles. Mussel meal proved to be a very effective alternative ingredient for enhancing growth performance, feed palatability and feed utilization in sole irrespectively to the tested inclusion levels. This thesis highlighted the importance of formulating more specific diets in order to support the aquaculture growth in a sustainable way.

The aim of this thesis was to investigate some important key factors able to promote the prospected growth of the aquaculture sector. The limited availability of fishmeal and fish oil led the attention of the aquafeed industry to reduce the dependency on marine raw materials in favor of vegetable ingredients. In Chapter 2, we reported the effects of fishmeal replacement by a mixture of plant proteins in turbot (Psetta maxima L.) juveniles. At the end of the trial, it was found that over the 15% plant protein inclusion can cause stress and exert negative effects on growth performance and welfare. Climate change aroused the attention of the aquafeed industry toward the production of specific diets capable to counteract high temperatures. In Chapter 3, we investigated the most suitable dietary lipid level for gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) reared at Mediterranean summer temperature. In this trial, it was highlighted that 18% dietary lipid allows a protein sparing effect, thus making the farming of this species economically and environmentally more sustainable. The introduction of new farmed fish species makes necessary the development of new species-specific diets. In Chapter 4, we assessed growth response and feed utilization of common sole (Solea solea L.) juveniles fed graded dietary lipid levels. At the end of the trial, it was found that increasing dietary lipids over 8% led to a substantial decline in growth performance and feed utilization indices. In Chapter 5, we investigated the suitability of mussel meal as alternative ingredient in diets for common sole juveniles. Mussel meal proved to be a very effective alternative ingredient for enhancing growth performance, feed palatability and feed utilization in sole irrespectively to the tested inclusion levels. This thesis highlighted the importance of formulating more specific diets in order to support the aquaculture growth in a sustainable way.

Silicon photonics has gained interest for its potential to provide higher efficiency, bandwidth and reduced power consumption compared to electrical interconnects in datacenters and high performance computing environments. However, it is well known that silicon photonic devices suffer from temperature fluctuations due to silicon's high thermo-optic coefficient and therefore, temperature control in many applications is required. Here we present an athermal optical add-drop multiplexer fabricated from ring resonators. We used a sol-gel inorganic-organic hybrid material as an alternative to previously used materials such as polymers and titanium dioxide. In this work we studied the thermal curing parameters of the sol-gel and their effect on thermal wavelength shift of the rings. With this method, we were able to demonstrate a thermal shift down to -6.8 pm/% for transverse electric (TE) polarization in ring resonators with waveguide widths of 325 nm when the sol-gel was cured at 130 % for 10.5 hours. We also achieved thermal shifts below 1 pm/% for transverse magnetic (TM) polarization in the C band under different curing conditions. Curing time compared to curing temperature shows to be the most important factor to control sol-gel's thermo-optic value in order to obtain an athermal device in a wide temperature range. (C) 2017 Optical Society of America

Interest in the implementation of AGV-systems (Automated Guided Vehicle) has in recent decades increased. The reason is that it allows companies to perform reliably and secure internal transport while reducing the need of personnel. It is one of todays most advanced and complex material handling system that can independently make their own decisions regarding flow paths and traffic control. An AGV-system consists of transport units carrying cargo from point A to point B, and communicates using a computer. The purpose of this study is to develop a model on how to proceed in order to design an AGV system in heavy industry. The model is tested by a case study of a company in the metal industry to determine if the model works and gives the correct result. Relevant literature has been collected through scientific articles, books. In order to find relevant information, a flow mapping on Billet preparation of Sandvik AB was performed. The information was summarized in a situation analysis. In order to design the AGV system, we found that analytical approach and simulation was according to the literature's most successful approaches. By using these methods in the theoretical model and adjust their performance against one another the results from the model should be a sufficiently accurate reflection of the design needed to serve the Billet preparation.

In this thesis, the propagation of transient waves in heterogeneous media and the tuning of periodic elastic materials are studied. The behaviour of time harmonic waves in complex media is a well understood phenomenon. The primary aim of this text is to gain a deeper understanding into the propagation of transient waves in periodic media. The secondary aim is to explore the time harmonic behaviour of two dimensional pre-stressed elastic media and investigate the plausibility of band gap tuning. We begin this text by investigating the reflection of pulses from a semi-infinite set of point masses (we call 'beads') on a string. The reflected pulse is formulated using Fourier transforms which involve the harmonic reflection coefficient. We find that the reflected amplitude of a harmonic wave depends on its frequency. We then ask whether it is possible to find an effective reflection coefficient by assuming the beaded portion of the string is given by some effective homogeneous medium. An effective reflection coefficient is found by assuming the homogeneous medium has the wavenumber given by the infinite beaded string. This effective reflection coefficient is compared to the exact reflection coefficient found using the Wiener-Hopf technique. The results from studying the reflection problem gave inspiration to chapter 4, which focuses on the time dependent forcing of an infinite beaded string that is initially at rest. We again use the Fourier transform to find a time dependent solution. The z-transform is then used, after sampling the solution at the bead positions. We impose a sinusoidal loading which is switched on at a specified time. In doing this we are able to explore how the system behaves differently when excited in a stop band, a pass band and at a frequency on the edge between the two. An exact solution for the infinite beaded string is found at any point in time by expanding the branch points of the solution as a series of poles. We compare this exact solution to the long time asymptotics. The energy input into the system is studied with the results from the exact solution and long time approximation showing agreement. Interesting behaviour is discovered on the two edges between stop and pass bands. In chapter 5 the effect of a nonlinear elastic pre-stress on the wave band structure of a two dimensional phononic crystal is investigated. In this chapter we restrict ourselves to incompressible materials with the strain energy functions used being the neo-Hookean, Mooney-Rivlin and Fung. The method of small-on-large is used to derive the equation for incremental elastic waves and then the plane wave expansion method is used to find the band structure. Finally, chapter 6 focuses on the same geometry with a compressible elastic material. The strain energy function used is the one suggested by Levinson and Burgess. We use the theory of small-on-large to derive the incremental equations for coupled small amplitude pressure and shear waves in this material. In both compressible and incompressible materials we show how it is possible to control the stop bands in a material by applying a large elastic pre-stress.

Inspired by Darwin's natural selection, genetic programming is an evolutionary computation technique which searches for computer programs best solving an optimization problem. The ability of GP to perform structural optimization at the same time of parameter optimization makes it uniquely suitable to solve more complex optimization problems, in which the structure of the solution is not known a priori. But, as GP is applied to increasingly difficult problems, the efficiency of the algorithm has been severely limited by bloating. Previous studies of bloating suggest that bloating can be resolved either directly by delaying the growth in depth and size, or indirectly by making GP to find optimal solutions faster. This thesis explores both options in order to improve the scalability and the capacity of GP algorithm. It tackles the former by firstly systematically analyzing the effect of bloating using a mathematical tool developed called activation rate. It then proposes depth difference hypothesis as a new cause of bloating and investigates depth constraint crossover as a new bloating control method, which is able to give very competitive control over bloating without affecting the exploration of fitter individuals. This thesis explores the second option by developing norm-referenced fitness function, which dynamically determines the individual's fitness based on not only how well it performs, but also the population's average performance as well. It is shown both theoretically and empirically that, norm-referenced fitness is able to significantly improve GP performance over the standard GP setup.

Aim and methodology: Ankle injuries account for 8% of all minor injuries attending emergency departments in the United Kingdom and the Ottawa ankle rules were introduced to assess the need for x-ray in the early 1990s (Stiell et al 1992). Although the rules are said to have reduced the number of ankle x-rays requested the frequency of fractures in the population still receiving x-rays is only 15% nationally. This study aims to assess whether the tuning fork can increase the diagnostic accuracy of the Ottawa ankle rules when used on twisting ankle injuries by multiple operators in multiple emergency care settings. A mixed methods study conducted in two phases was undertaken. Phase one consisted of a diagnostic test study using the Ottawa ankle rules in conjunction with the tuning fork test on patients already screened as being Ottawa positive to the ‘malleolar’ zone and requiring an x-ray of their ankle. Patients aged 12 years or over who had sustained an ankle injury by a twisting mechanism were eligible to take part. Patient age, gender, ethnicity, and previous history of injury or presence of distracting injuries, degree of swelling, and role of operator were all considered potential variables for an accurate tuning fork test, and these were analyzed individually and in a multiple logistical regression model to assess for predictor variables of a correct tuning fork test. Phase two of the study included a series of focus group discussions to explore participant and clinician experiences of the tuning fork test. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Data was collected for 2-years and 1313 patients were included in the final analysis. 56% of the study participants were male. Mean age was 34 years (range 12-91). 98% were of white ethnic origin. 210 (16%) were diagnosed with fractures, of which 38 were deemed to be not clinically significant. The tuning fork had a diagnostic accuracy of 56% (95% CI 53-58), NPV 96% (95% CI 94-97), sensitivity 84% (95% CI 78-89) and specificity 51% (95% CI 48-54). X-rays could have been reduced by 47% but this was at the expense of missing 29 ‘clinically significant’ fractures. However, seven of these were managed as soft tissue injuries and in nine the initial assessment of tenderness did not match the site of the fracture. A total of 113 clinicians (nurses & doctors) were involved in performing the tuning fork test independently. Patient age (adjusted OR 1.021, p. <0.001) and role of the operator (adjusted OR 1.595, p. 0.003 for nurse) were the only predictors of an accurate test. Ten patients and ten clinicians attended the focus group discussions in phase two of the study. Patients and clinicians appeared to accept the tuning fork as a method for assessment provided adequate explanation was given. Patients claimed the tuning fork test was not painful but had a similar sensation to that of a ‘Tens’ machine. There were differences in opinion between the two groups as to whether the tuning fork was accurate or not and clinicians held the perception that patients expect an x-ray when they present with an ankle injury, whereas patients disagreed with this. Patients were fully aware of the dangers of x-rays and stated that a reduction in x-rays was one of the main potential benefits of the study. Conclusions This is the largest study to investigate the accuracy of the tuning fork to detect fractures, not only in the size of the study population but the number of clinicians involved. It is also the first to report inconclusive Ottawa ankle rule and tuning fork test results. It is unlikely that the lower sensitivity will be accepted by patients and clinicians. Further research to assess inter-operator reliability is recommended before implementing the tuning fork test into clinical practice.

Power quality has become one of major concerns in the power industry. It can be described as the reliability of the electric power to maintain continuity operation of end-use equipment. Power quality problems are defined as deviation of voltage or current waveforms from the ideal value. The expansion plan of wind power generation has raised concern regarding how it influences the voltage and current signals. The variability nature of wind energy and the requirements of wind power generation increase the potential problems such as frequency and harmonic distortions. In order to analyze and mitigate problems in wind power generation, it is important to monitor power quality in wind farm. Therefore, the more accurate and reliable parameter estimation methods suitable for wind power generation are needed. Three parameter estimation methods are proposed in this thesis to estimate the unknown parameters, i.e. amplitude and phase angle of fundamental and harmonic components, DC component and system frequency, during the dynamic change in wind farm. In the first method, a self-tuning procedure is introduced to least square method to increase the immunity of the algorithm to noise. In the second method, nonrecursive Newton Type Algorithm is utilised to estimate the unknown parameters by obtaining the left pseudoinverse of Jacobian matrix. In the last technique, unscented transformation is used to replace the linearization procedure to obtain mean and covariance which will be used in Kalman filter method. All of the proposed methods have been tested rigorously using computer simulated data and have shown their capability to track the unknown parameters under extreme distortions. The performances of proposed methods have also been compared using real recorded data from several wind farms in Europe and have demonstrated high correlation. This comparison has verified that UKF requires the shortest processing time and STLS requires the longest.

Understanding the life history of a species is essential for fully understanding its role within an ecosystem. However, many of the fish species of high ecological value have not been studied due to their less prominent roles in local recreational and commercial fisheries in comparison to other targeted species. This study describes the age and growth patterns of three small tuna species inhabiting South Florida waters: blackfin tuna Thunnus atlanticus, little tunny Euthynnus alletteratus, and skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis. Tuna specimens were collected via donations obtained from various fishing tournaments and charter captains in the areas of the Florida Straits as well as hook-and-line by the Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center. Age was described via sagittal otolith deposition patterns. They were removed, dried, sectioned, and rings were counted as well as measured. Validation of the timing of ring deposits was done by marginal increment analysis. Growth parameters were determined by comparison of fish fork length to count measurements. This comparison via the Von Bertalanffy growth equation produced a growth rate for each species: blackfin, L∞ = 95.34 cm, K = 0.28, and t0 = -1.53; little tunny, L∞ = 77.93 cm, K = 0.69, and t0 = -0.69; and skipjack, L∞ = 112.76 cm, K = 0.24, and t0 = -1.70. The curves indicate an average size of an individual of a given species at a certain age. They also give an estimation of a maximum length (L∞) of each species, in addition to specific growth rate, which is indicated by the slope. Parameters of each resulting Von Bertalanffy equation were compared among species. Results were also compared with growth rates currently used in stock assessments by fisheries management organizations, such as the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).

Abstract Type 2 diabetes is increasing overall in the world and is mostly associated with Western lifestyle including replete, unhealthy diet, sedentary life style and growing obesity. In the future the highest prevalence will be seen among older people due to longer life expectancy and changes in demography. Because diabetes is associated with increased morbidity, especially from cardiovascular causes, and a shortened life expectancy, an important aspect in the older population is the impact of diabetes on health related quality of life (HRQoL) and development of disability. To measure HRQoL we have many valid instruments, one of them the widely used RAND-36 survey. The 2-hour glucose value is important in screening subjects at high risk for diabetes, but it is time consuming and costly. Recently, 1-hour post load glucose has aroused interest in the prediction of diabetes. Few studies have focused on the effect of the age of onset of diabetes and how it effects on the HRQoL at an older age. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors for future diabetes in men healthy in midlife; the interest was especially focused on 1-hour post load glucose. The other objective was to estimate the HRQoL in men who develop diabetes at an old age. The present prospective study is based on the Helsinki Businessmen Study originally consisting of 3.490 men, born in 1919–1934 and followed since the 1960´s. All the men had socioeconomically similar status and belonged to the highest social group. The extensive baseline examinations were conducted in 1974, when the men were in midlife, mean age 48. At that time the men´s health, medication and cardiovascular risk factors were observed and self-related health (SRH) was rated on a five-step scale. The men who were healthy without medications were included in the follow-up group. The men were later investigated with postal questionnaires (1985/86, 2000, 2002/03, 2007). In 2000, at mean age of 73, the HRQoL of the survivors was examined using the RAND-36 instrument and was replicated in 2002/03, 2005 and 2007. Development of diabetes was evaluated using the National Drug Reimbursement register and self-reported diabetes in questionnaires. Baseline 1-hour post-load blood glucose and weight gain from the age of 25 to midlife predicted future diabetes, and especially a combination of 1-hour glucose >8.9 mmol/L and body mass index (BMI) of ≥30 was associated with a 10.1-fold increase of diabetes risk independently of cardiovascular risk factors. Men with late-onset of diabetes (age >75) tented to be healthier in midlife. Diabetes did not affect the HRQoL until after diabetes onset. According to the evaluation in 2000, three RAND-36 scales, i.e. physical functioning, general health and social functioning, worsened already after 0–4 years from diabetes onset but did not deteriorate thereafter. There was no consistent impact on mental health. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that in men, who develop diabetes later in old age, cardiovascular risk factors in midlife and elevated 1-hour post-load glucose and weight gain up to midlife are important predictors for future diabetes. Developing diabetes exerts clear effects on HRQoL, measured with RAND-36 very early after diagnosis, but affects only some of the domains
Tiivistelmä Tyypin 2 diabetes on lisääntymässä maailmanlaajuisesti ja on suurelta osin yhteydessä länsimaisen elämäntyylin yleistymiseen. Keskeisimpinä tekijöinä ovat muuttunut, yltäkylläinen ruokavalio, vähentynyt fyysinen aktiivisuus ja niiden myötä lihavuuden lisääntyminen. Diabeteksen lisääntyminen näyttäisi olevan suurinta yli 65-vuotiaiden keskuudessa. Tähän vaikuttavat mm. eliniän pidentyminen ja väestörakenteen muutokset. Diabetesta sairastavien riski sairastua ja kuolla sydän- ja verisuonisairauksien komplikaatioihin on suurempi kuin ei-diabeetikoilla ja sairauksien myötä toimintakyky sekä elämänlaatu heikkenevät. Henkilön oma arvio hyvinvoinnista on tärkeä mittari. Elämänlaadun luotettava mittaaminen on tullut mahdolliseksi testattujen kysymyssarjojen myötä. Yksi laajasti käytetty mittari on RAND-36. Diabetesriskissä olevien henkilöiden löytämiseksi on käytetty 2-tunnin glukoosirasitustestiä, joka on aikaa vievä. Viimeaikoina onkin herännyt kiinnostus glukoosirasituksen jälkeistä yhden tunnin sokeriarvoa kohtaan. Useimmat tyypin 2 diabetekseen liittyvät tutkimukset ovat keskittyneet työikäiseen väestöön, minkä vuoksi tutkimuksia vanhemmalla iällä puhjenneesta diabeteksesta ja sen vaikutuksesta elämänlaatuun on vähemmän. Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli selvittää keski-iän riskitekijöitä, jotka ennustavat tulevaa tyypin 2 diabetesta myöhemmällä iällä. Yhtenä tutkimuskohteena oli yhden tunnin glukoosirasituksen jälkeinen sokeriarvo. Myöhemmällä iällä puhjenneen diabeteksen merkitystä elämänlatuun kartoitettiin RAND-36-mittarilla. Tutkimusaineistona oli ns. Helsingin Johtajatutkimuksen mieskohortti, jota on seurattu 1960-luvulta alkaen. Kaikki miehet (n=3.490) olivat alkuaan terveitä, vuosina 1919–1934 syntyneitä miehiä, jotka kuuluivat ylimpään sosiaaliryhmään. Heidän terveydentilaansa on kartoitettu nykypäiviin saakka. Laajempi perustutkimus tehtiin vuonna 1974, jolloin miehet olivat keski-iässä (48 v). Seurantaan valittiin terveet henkilöt, joilla ei ollut säännöllisiä lääkityksiä. Tällöin kartoitettiin sydän- ja verisuonisairauksien riskitekijöitä, mitattiin glukoosirasituksen jälkeinen yhden tunnin sokeriarvo ja selviteltiin elämäntapoja, minkä lisäksi sen hetkistä itse koettua hyvinvointia mitattiin 5-portaisella asteikolla. Postitse lähetettyjä kyselytutkimuksia on tehty tietyin väliajoin ja aineiston tiedot tähän tutkimukseen on kerätty 31.12.2007 mennessä. Vuonna 2000 kyselytutkimukseen liitettiin elämänlaatumittarina RAND-36-mittarin suomalainen versio. Diabeteksen puhkeamista on seurattu Kelan lääkekorvausrekisteristä sekä itse ilmoitettuna postikyselyiden kautta. Tässä keski-iässä terveessä mieskohortissa tulevan diabeteksen kannalta merkittävimmät ennusteelliset tekijät olivat painon nousu 25-vuoden iästä keski-ikään sekä keski-iässä mitattu glukoosirasituksen jälkeinen yhden tunnin sokeriarvo. Etenkin yhden tunnin sokeriarvo >8.9 mmol/L ja BMI ≥30 nostivat tulevan diabeteksen riskin 10-kertaiseksi. Näillä tekijöillä oli myös vahva yhteys sydän- ja verisuonisairauksien aiheuttamaan kuolleisuuteen. Glukoosirasituksen jälkeisellä yhden tunnin sokeriarvolla näyttäisi olevan merkitystä arvioitaessa tyypin 2 diabetesriskiä tulevaisuudessa, katkaisupisteenä plasman ≥7.8 mmol/L. Elämänlaatua diabetes näytti heikentävän pian diagnoosin jälkeen (0–4 vuotta diagnoosista), mutta sen jälkeen elämänlaatu ei huonontunut oleellisesti. RAND-36 mittarilla mitattuna elämänlaatu heikkeni merkittävästi diabeetikoilla ei-diabeetikoihin verrattuna fyysisen toimintakyvyn, yleisen elämänlaadun ja sosiaalisten toimintojen osa-alueilla, mutta mielenterveyteen diabetes ei näyttänyt vaikuttavan

Abstract With the growing proportion of older people and increasing use of drugs in this population, it is important to study how drugs affect oral health among older people. The aim of this thesis was to study whether sedative load, which represents cumulative exposure to drugs with sedative properties, is associated with oral health among community-dwelling older people. The focus was on a dry mouth, oral health behavior, dental caries, and infection in the periodontium. In addition, sedative load and anticholinergic burden were compared. The present study population was a subpopulation from an intervention study “Geriatric Multidisciplinary Strategy for Good Care of the Elderly”. The study population consisted of 159 community-dwelling, dentate, and non-smoking people aged 75 or older from the city of Kuopio, Finland. Data were collected with interviews, geriatric assessments, and clinical oral examinations. Sedative load was determined by using a previously published method. The study showed that participants with a sedative load were more likely to have dental caries, but not periodontitis, when compared with participants without a sedative load. Sedative load was associated with decreased stimulated salivary secretion and less strongly with unstimulated salivary secretion but not with xerostomia. The results also showed that sedative load was associated with poor or insufficient oral health behavior. Anticholinergic burden was associated with low unstimulated salivary secretion and xerostomia, but not with low stimulated salivary secretion. In conclusion, cumulative exposure to drugs with sedative properties was associated with insufficient oral self-care and poor oral health. The results from this study emphasize the fact that older people using drugs with sedative properties require thorough prophylaxis measures and regular dental check-ups because of their high risk of having poor oral health
Tiivistelmä Väestön iäkkäiden henkilöiden osuuden kasvaessa ja heidän lääkkeiden käytön lisääntyessä on tärkeää tutkia, miten lääkkeet vaikuttavat ikääntyneiden suun terveyteen. Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli selvittää lääkityksestä aiheutuvan sedatiivikuorman (sedative load) vaikutuksia suun terveyteen kotona asuvilla iäkkäillä henkilöillä. Eritoten tutkimuskohteena oli sedatiivikuorman yhteys kuivaan suuhun, suun terveyskäyttäytymiseen, kariekseen sekä hampaiden tukikudosten sairauteen. Lisäksi tutkittiin antikolinergisen kuorman yhteyttä kuivaan suuhun ja tuloksia verrattiin sedatiivikuormaan. Tutkimuspopulaatio oli osa geriatrista Hyvän Hoidon Strategia -interventiotutkimusta (HHS). Populaatio koostui 159 kotona asuvasta 75-vuotiaasta tai sitä vanhemmasta hampaallisesta, ei-tupakoivasta kuopiolaisesta. Tutkimusmateriaali kerättiin haastattelulla, geriatrisella tutkimuksella sekä kliinisellä suun tutkimuksella. Sedatiivikuorma laskettiin käyttäen aiemmin kehitettyä mallia, jossa määritetään kokonaislääkityksestä aiheutuva sedatiivikuorma. Tutkimus osoitti, että osallistujilla, joilla oli sedatiivikuormaa, oli keskimäärin enemmän kariesta muttei hampaiden tukikudoksen sairautta verrattuna henkilöihin, joilla ei ollut sedatiivikuormaa. Tulokset osoittivat myös, että sedatiivikuorma oli yhteydessä alentuneeseen stimuloidun syljeneritykseen ja vähemmässä määrin alentuneeseen leposyljeneritykseen, mutta ei kuivan suun tunteeseen. Antikolinerginen kuorma oli yhteydessä alentuneeseen leposyljeneritykseen ja kuivan suun tunteeseen, mutta ei alentuneeseen stimuloidun syljeneritykseen. Sedatiivikuorma oli yhteydessä puutteelliseen suun terveyskäyttäytymiseen, kuten vähäiseen hammastahnan käyttöön ja suureen plakkimäärään. Johtopäätöksenä voidaan todeta, että altistuminen väsyttäville lääkkeille on yhteydessä puutteelliseen omahoitoon ja huonoon suun terveyteen. Tämän tutkimuksen tulokset korostavat väsyttäviä lääkkeitä käyttävien ikääntyneiden tarvitsevan perusteellisia ennaltaehkäiseviä toimia sekä säännöllisiä suun tutkimuksia, koska heillä on suurentunut riski huonoon suun terveyteen

碩士
明志科技大學
電機工程研究所
100
This paper aims to study the intelligent control approach on the speed control of an automatic guided vehicle (AGV). An adaptive neural fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) with PID controller is adopted according to the features of motor and vehicle. Through training ANFIS controller, the rising time and settling time can be decreased to minimum values. Further, particle swarm optimization (PSO) is used to optimize the parameters of fuzzy rules, membership function and normalization gaining of ANFIS controller. It can be shown that the better performance such as the shortest rising time and settling time can be achieved by the proposed PSO-ANFIS with PID control scheme.

碩士
高雄醫學大學
護理學研究所
88
The present correlatioal research aimed at: 1) testing reliability and validity of Asthmatic Knowledge, Attitude and Self-Management Behavior Scales, 2)exploring asthmatic children’s knowledge of disease, attitude of disease, and self-management behavior. Convenient sampling was used to recruit subjects. One hundred and sixty eight asthmatic children of 7 to 12 years old were recruited from 14 elementary schools in Pintung area, Taiwan. Test instruments included Asthmatic Knowledge, Asthmatic Attitude, Self-Management Behaviors, and Demographic Information. Descriptive statistics, item-total correlation, factor analysis, One-Way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and stepwise-multiple linear regression were used to analyze data. The results showed: 1) a KR20 value of 0.79 on Asthmatic Knowledge Scale and three extracted factors via factor analysis: knowledge of trigger factors, knowledge of disease, and knowledge of preventive attack; 2) a Cronbach’s α value of 0.73 on Asthmatic Attitude Scale and two extracted factors via factor analysis: control of disease, asthmatic prevention ; 3) a Cronbach’s αvalue of 0.80 on Asthmatic Self-Management Behavior Scale and three extracted factors via factor analysis: behavior of symptoms management, behavior of preventive attack, and behavior of health maintenance; 4) a moderate-leveled standardized score of 57.26 for knowledge of disease; 5) a positive-leveled standardized score of 86.27 for attitude of disease; 6) a moderate high-leveled standardized score of 69.34 for self-management behaviors; 7) no significant relationship between demographic information and self-management behavior, but a positive correlation between age and health maintenance behavior; 8) a significant correlation between asthmatic knowledge and self-management behavior; 9) a significant correlation between asthmatic attitude and self-management behavior; and 10) knowledge of disease and attitude of disease as important predictors for self-management behaviors, both together accounting for 23.9% of the total variance. Our study suggested that for educational purposes, program on asthmatic knowledge should emphasize trigger factors, medication usage, self-monitor, symptom management, and knowledge of asthma epidemiology; program on asthmatic attitude should emphasize medication usage and asthmatic prevention; and program on asthmatic self-management behaviors should emphasize preventive medication , allergens avoidance, deep breathing exercises, relaxation exercises, and effcetive sputum elimination method. More emphasizing on asthma education was also suggested for local medical members, school nurses and teachers. Results of the present study could serve as basis for future studies. keywords：school-age, asthma, asthmatic knowledge, asthmatic attitude, asthmatic self management behavior

This thesis aims to map non-Semitic influences in the religion and culture of the Late Bronze Age Syria. During the Late Bronze Age, Syria was divided into many local kingdoms which were most of the time subdued to the great empires of the ancient Near East (Mitanni and Ḫatti) and Egypt. Influences from these cultural areas are the most noticeable. Trade across the Mediterranean brought many cultural influences, too. These are mostly observable in art. The thesis is centred around case studies from Ugarit, Amurru, Byblos, Karkemiš, Alalaḫ, Ḫalāb, Emar, Tunip and Qaṭna. Each case study shows peculiarities of individual sites and different modes of cultural transfer. The data are set into a broader anthropological perspective and some general conclusions are made about the process of culture transfer and about conceptions of foreignnessin theculturesof theancientNearEastand Egypt.Abroadertheoryof cultureasa system of concepts is outlined and the material is interpreted in its light. Key words Foreigners, foreignness, culture transfer, religion, Late Bronze Age, ancient Syria, ancient Near East, Egypt, Ḫatti, Mitanni, Hittites, Hurrians, Egyptians, Ugarit, Amurru, Byblos, Karkemiš, Alalaḫ, Ḫalāb, Emar, Tunip, Qaṭna.