Search results for " quality."
showing 10 items of 2995 documents
Endovenous ablation of refluxing saphenous and perforating veins.
2017
Abstract. Since the end of the nineties endovenous thermal ablation and more recently non-thermal, non-tumescent techniques have been developed and improved. Until now, because of their favourable side effect profile in conjunction to sustained efficacy, in many countries they already replaced high ligation and stripping in the treatment of refluxing saphenous veins as well as for treatment of perforators and selected tributaries. Now, studies and comparative trials are available with long-term follow-ups for most of the techniques, providing valid data on occlusion and reflux rates, side effect profiles, and health related quality of life.
Analysis of the U L3-edge X-ray absorption spectra in UO2 using molecular dynamics simulations
2017
This work was supported by a grant from the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS) under the project ID s444. The resource allocation within the PSI share at CSCS and on the PSI compute cluster Merlin4 is also acknowledged. D. B. is grateful for a fellowship within the Sciex-NMS programme. A. K. was supported by Latvian Science Council Grant no. 187/2012.
Subjective Evaluation of Video on Demand Systems Using Different Network Connections
2009
Nowadays, society makes use of new technologies as they appear. Due to this boom, the use of resources via web is increasing notably. In of training and education cases, companies such as universities are offering tele-learning platforms to complement and facilitate the learning process. Some of these called e-learning platforms can have explanatory videos as a resource for training. For the codification of these videos, we have to use parameters which provide a trade-off between the video sizes to be transmitted that optimize bandwidth and video and audio quality. This paper presents a subjective study of the video quality on transmission depending on the types of users’ network access to …
Audit and Earnings Management in Spanish SMEs
2016
Abstract Evidence about the relation between earnings management and voluntary audits is scarce, and there is no research about the effectiveness of mandatory audits to improve earnings quality. Using a sample of Spanish SMEs, where some companies are mandatorily audited and some are exempt from audit, we examine if audits, either mandatory or voluntary, help to improve accounting quality by constraining earnings management. We also examine differences between voluntary and mandatory audits, as well as the role of Big 4 and Middle-Tier auditors. After controlling for other characteristics that affect earnings management, we find that audited companies have lower absolute discretionary accru…
Producing SI-traceable reference values for Cd, Cr and Pb amount contents in polyethylene samples from the Polymer Elemental Reference Material (PERM…
2000
The present paper describes the certification of the amount content of Cd, Cr and Pb in two different polyethylene materials within the third phase of the Polyethylene Elemental Reference Material (PERM) project. The analytical procedure to establish the reference values for Cd, Cr and Pb amount contents in these materials is based on isotope dilution mass spectrometry used as a primary method of measurement. Cd and Pb were measured with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and Cr with positive thermal ionization-mass spectrometry. The decomposition of the polymer matrix was carried out using a high pressure asher. Reference values for amount content, traceable to the SI-system, hav…
Objective Amplitude of Accommodation Computed from Optical Quality Metrics Applied to Wavefront Outcomes
2009
Purpose: We studied the accuracy and precision of 32 objective wavefront methods for finding the amplitude of accommodation obtained in 180 eyes. Methods: Ocular accommodation was stimulated with 0.5 D steps in target vergence spanning the full range of accommodation for each subject. Subjective monocular amplitude of accommodation was measured using two clinical methods, using negative lenses and with a custom Badal optometer. Results: Both subjective methods gave similar results. Results obtained from the Badal optometer where used to test the accuracy of the objective methods. All objective methods showed lower amplitude of accommodation that the subjective ones by an amount that varied …
Symptom variability and control in COPD: Advantages of dual bronchodilation therapy
2017
Abstract Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by usually progressive development of airflow obstruction that is not fully reversible. While most patients will experience symptoms throughout the day or in the morning upon awakening, many patients do not experience their symptoms as constant but report variability in symptoms during the course of the day or over time. Symptom variability adversely affects patients' health status and increases the risk of COPD exacerbations. Methods We examined data from the literature on symptom variability and control in patients with COPD, with focus on the use of inhaled bronchodilator therapy wi…
Subjective ranking of concert halls substantiated through orthogonal objective parameters.
2015
[EN] This paper studies the global subjective assessment, obtained from mean values of the results of surveys addressed to members of the audience of live concerts in Spanish auditoriums, through the mean values of the three orthogonal objective parameters (Tmid, IACCE3, and LEV), expressed in just noticeable differences (JNDs), regarding the best-valued hall. Results show that a linear combination of the relative variations of orthogonal parameters can largely explain the overall perceived quality of the sample. However, the mean values of certain orthogonal parameters are not representative, which shows that an alternative approach to the problem is necessary. Various possibilities are pr…
A New Adaptive Neural Harmonic Compensator for Inverter Fed Distributed Generation
2004
This paper deals with the command of inverters in DG (distributed generation) systems by use of linear neural networks in such a way that, with a slight upgrade of their control software, they can be used also to compensate for the harmonic distortion in the node where they are connected (local compensation), that is in the in the point of common coupling (PCC). To this purpose a neural estimator based on linear neurons (ADALINEs) has been developed which is able to act as a selective noise cancellers for each harmonic of the node voltage. The use of linear neurons permits the drawbacks of classical neural networks to be overcome and moreover the neural estimator is easy to implement, thus …
Model Predictive Control for Shunt Active Filters With Fixed Switching Frequency
2016
This paper presents a modification to the classical Model Predictive Control algorithm, named Modulated Model Predictive Control, and its application to active power filters. The proposed control is able to retain all the advantages of a Finite Control Set Model Predictive Control whilst improving the generated waveforms harmonic spectrum. In fact a modulation algorithm, based on the cost function ratio for different output vectors, is inherently included in the MPC. The cost function-based modulator is introduced and its effectiveness on reducing the current ripple is demonstrated. The presented solution provides an effective and straightforward single loop controller, maintaining an excel…