Search results for " Process"

Modeling and Mitigating Errors in Belief Propagation for Distributed Detection

2021

We study the behavior of the belief-propagation (BP) algorithm affected by erroneous data exchange in a wireless sensor network (WSN). The WSN conducts a distributed multidimensional hypothesis test over binary random variables. The joint statistical behavior of the sensor observations is modeled by a Markov random field whose parameters are used to build the BP messages exchanged between the sensing nodes. Through linearization of the BP message-update rule, we analyze the behavior of the resulting erroneous decision variables and derive closed-form relationships that describe the impact of stochastic errors on the performance of the BP algorithm. We then develop a decentralized distribute…

Reduction-oxidation dynamics of oxidized graphene: Functional group composition dependent path to reduction

2018

Micrometer-sized oxidation patterns containing varying composition of functional groups including epoxy, ether, hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, were created in chemical vapor deposition grown graphene through scanning probe lithography and pulsed laser two-photon oxidation. The oxidized graphene films were then reduced by a focused x-ray beam. Through in-situ x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurement, we found that the path to complete reduction depends critically on the total oxygen coverage and concentration of epoxy and ether groups. Over the threshold concentrations, a complex reduction-oxidation process involving conversion of functional groups of lower binding energy to higher bindin…

Effect of ozone and hydrogen peroxide on off-flavor compounds and water quality in a recirculating aquaculture system

2022

The recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) is an ever-developing technology for producing fish with a low environmental impact. However, off-flavors can be a major problem in RAS fish production. Off-flavor compounds are of microbial origin and are accumulated in fish flesh. They typically cause a musty and earthy taste and odor, which consumers find unacceptable. Here we hypothesized that oxidizing compounds such as ozone (O3), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and their combinations, referred to as advanced oxidation processes (AOP)s, can remove or decrease these compounds in water and prevent their accumulation in fish. In this study, four different oxidative treatments (O3 low (0.4 mg O3 L−1), …

A person-oriented approach to sport and school burnout in adolescent student-athletes: The role of individual and parental expectations

2017

Abstract Objectives The present study aimed to examine what kind of burnout profiles exist among student-athletes based on their sport and school burnout symptoms. Moreover, it was investigated whether athletes' expectations of success in sport and school, on the one hand, and parental expectations, on the other hand, were predictors of the likelihood of the athlete to show a certain profile, after taking into account the effects of gender, grade point average, type of sport, and level of competition. Design and methods The participants were 391 student-athletes (51% females) from six different upper secondary sport schools in Finland, and 448 parents (58% mothers). The athletes filled in q…

Burnout as an important factor in the psychophysiological responses to a work day in Teachers

2010

Burnout syndrome is an important psychosocial risk in the job context, especially in professions with a strong social interaction, as in the case of teaching. This study analyses the role of burnout in the psychophysiological responses to a work day in teachers. High burnout was related to worse mood, and higher perceived stress throughout the work day. Moreover, burnout is positively related to systolic blood pressure and negatively related to salivary cortisol levels at the beginning of the work day. Higher scores of burnout in teachers are also related to lower heart rate in the middle of the work day. The psychophysiological responses to a work day are specifically associated with the d…

Role Stress: Burnout Antecedent in Nursing Professionals

1993

Abstract Burnout syndrome has been described by different authors as a reaction to work stress. Hence both the role stress components–role ambiguity and role conflict–appear in the literature as burnout antecedent variables. The correlation between these variables is positive. On the other hand, the work social support (from supervisors and colleagues) is a variable with influence on both role stress and burnout, so the people who perceive higher work social support feel lower role stress and lower burnout than the people who perceive lower social support. In this study we present the results of a correlational study of role ambiguity, role conflict, burnout levels (tested with Maslach Burn…

“Toward a full decentralization of public regional healthcare systems: an exploratory system dynamic approach to evaluate some socio-economic healthc…

2012

The Italian Healthcare Service, originally managed by the central Government, has been gradually adjusted toward a decentralized model, with ample devolution of legislative, organizational and financial competencies to the regions, now responsible for the creation of an institutional framework where efficiency, efficacy and accountability have to inform the actions of the healthcare operators. In Sicily for decades those principles seem not to have received practical implementation, as the healthcare system has been chronically marked by unsatisfying social and economic performances. Due to the recent financial disequilibria, the central Government pushed the regional one to reform the enti…

Combining Social Service and Healthcare as the First Country in the World : Exploring the Impacts on Information Systems

2018

The Finnish government has decided to implement a reform in the social and healthcare system by combining the two in the future. There are several drivers for this change that have been identified. Large number of information systems that are not interoperable, challenges in data management and isolated service offering are the most significant ones. In the government’s strategy for the future the digitalisation will provide tools to solve these challenges. In this paper the landscape is outlined and the architecture choices are discussed. The enterprise architecture is applied for the largest county comprising of over 1900 social service and healthcare related information systems. The targ…

Can Dried Fruits Replace Unhealthy Snacking among Millennials? An Empirical Study on Dried Fruit Consumption in Italy

2023

The consumption of dried fruits in place of unhealthy snacks, which are rich in sugars, salt, and fats, could represent a valid option for reaching the daily intake recommended by the WHO for fruits and for encouraging the adoption of a sustainable diet. However, the consumption of dried fruits is lower than that of unhealthy snacks, especially among young people. Therefore, to foster young people’s intentions to consume dried fruits instead of unhealthy snacks, it is important to identify the factors underlying millennials’ consumption intentions. Using a convenience sample of 174 Italian millennials, this paper aimed to understand the factors influencing young people’s i…

Resource, environmental and economic considerations in the development of a Reverse Electrodialysis Heat Engine

The RED Heat Engine operates as a closed-loop RED system, where limited amounts of artificial saline solutions are used as working fluids. The solutions exiting from the RED unit are regenerated by means of a separation step, which uses low-temperature heat as its energy source. Essentially the system converts low-grade heat to electricity. There are two main alternative regeneration strategies: (i) extract solvent from the high salinity solution and move it to the low salinity solution or (ii) extract salt from the low salinity solution and move it to the high salinity solution. In this thesis are considered the Multi-effect distillation (MED) and the Membrane Distillation (MD) under the s…