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Wireless sensor networks are attractive largely because they need no wired infrastructure. But precisely this feature makes them energy constrained, and the consequences of this hard energy constraint are the overall topic of this thesis. We are in particular concerned with principles for energy efficient wireless communication and the energy-wise trade-off between sensing and radio communication. Radio transmission between sensors incurs both a fixed energy cost from radio circuit processing, and a variable energy cost related to the level of radiated energy. We here find that transmission techniques that are otherwise considered efficient consumes too much processing energy. Currently available sensor node radios typically have a maximum output power that is too limited to benefit from transmission-efficient, but processing-intensive, techniques. Our results provide new design guidelines for the radio output power. With increasing transmission energy -- with increasing distance -- the considered techniques should be applied in the following order: output power control, polarisation receiver diversity, error correcting codes, multi-hop communication, and cooperative multiple-input multiple-output transmissions. To assess the measurement capability of the network as a whole, and to facilitate a study of the sensing-communication trade-off, we devise a new metric: the network measurement capacity. It is based on the number of different measurement sequences that a network can provide, and is hence a measure of the network's readiness to meet a large number of possible events. Optimised multi-hop routing under this metric reveals that the energy consumed for sensing has decisive impact on the best multi-hop routes. We also find support for the use of hierarchical heterogeneous network structures. Model parameter uncertainties have large impact on our results and we use probability theory as logic to include them consistently. Our analysis shows that common assumptions can give misleading results, and our analysis of radio channel measurements confirms the inadequacy of the Rayleigh fading channel model. / wisenet

The aim of this work is to show the effectiveness of techniques that allow a user to maintain its privacy and anonymity while participating in real word scenario. Users need to communicate with each other in many situations in order to share information. This creates the danger of the user’s privacy being breached and it can discourage users from taking active participation in any information sharing task. There are many real scenarios or application where users want to remain anonymous while having their communication secured. This is so in vehicular communication systems. Group signatures are versatile cryptographic tools that are suitable when we need security and privacy protection. A group signature scheme allows members of a group to sign messages on behalf of the group. Any receiver can verify the message validity but cannot discover the identity of the sender from the signed message or link two or more messages from the same signer. However, the identity of the signer can be discovered by an authority using a signed message. For this reason, Group Signature schemes were proposed in the context of vehicular communication systems. In this context, communication and computation overheads are critical. Thus, the focus of this thesis is to implement and compare different group signature schemes in terms of overhead introduced due to processing cost, and analytically evaluate their suitability for vehicular communication scenarios.

Bedside terminals are an approach to data entry that is maximally effective, due to capture at the point of care, to meet the challenges facing nursing today in relation to information documentation. The purpose of this evaluation research study was to determine if bedside terminals are justifiable though a cost-benefit analysis.The General Systems Theory, which was formulated by Ludwig von Bertalanffy in the late 1920's, was the theoretical framework used for this study (Putt, 1978).A non-standardized checklist of factors was developed by the researcher to evaluate the associated costs. related to bedside terminals. The factors included patient census, acuity, lost charges, reimbursement denials, and medication errors.A convenience sample of one surgical nursing unit from a large midwestern metropolitan hospital was chosen for data collection. Based on the literature, monetary values werearbitrarily assigned to the factors. Costs were assigned based on projected figures for bedside terminal implementation in 1993 obtained from the literature. All participants were notified of rights as human subjects and the confidentiality of this study.This study was significant because the results will be added to the limited information on the justification of bedside terminals using a cost-benefit analysis available in the current literature.Projections of bedside terminal costs were limited due to the unwillingness of bedside terminal vendors to provide current costs to compare against the quantitative benefits collected in this study. Reimbursement denials were not obtained due to the accounting practices of the institution. Due to these limitations, a prospective rather than the retrospective approach used in this study for data collection would be recommended to ensure obtaining information on all data elements. The results of this study should be considered when contemplating purchase of bedside terminals. Based on the results of this cost-benefit analysis study, the purchase of bedside terminals is cost-justified. A favorable return on investment of a one year payback was obtained. / School of Nursing

[pt] Esta tese, que se constitui na interface entre a Psicolinguística e os Estudos da Tradução, tem como objetivo investigar questões associadas a custo de processamento na tradução de DPs em inglês, com núcleo nominal precedido de dois ou três modificadores substantivos, adjetivos ou mistos, para o português. Além disso, busca-se refinar, a partir da integração entre as duas áreas, uma caracterização do processo tradutório com base em evidências da tradução dos DPs e de custo associado ao mesmo, de modo a contemplar tanto aspectos mais globais quanto microestruturais. Para tanto, faz-se uma revisão da literatura sobre os estudos processuais de tradução, com o intuito de verificar os tipos de pesquisa realizados na área, os objetos de investigação e os principais modelos do processo tradutório. São abordadas, também, a estrutura do DP e as características da pré-modificação em inglês, com vistas a avaliar em que medida as diferenças estruturais entre as duas línguas acarretam dificuldades para a tradução desse tipo de sintagma e, consequentemente, custo de processamento. Dentre os fatores que podem acarretar custo, examinam-se, em especial, os atrelados à estrutura do DP, como a diferença de posição entre núcleos e modificadores em inglês e português – o que exigiria a aplicação de uma operação de conversão –, número e tipo de modificadores e a potencial ambiguidade estrutural de alguns tipos de DPs, podendo implicar reanálise. São verificados, também, custos associados à tarefa tradutória em um nível mais global, considerando-se a interrupção do fluxo tradutório, as modificações realizadas nos DPs e as fases em que elas ocorrem. Para verificar custo de processamento associado aos DPs, foram elaboradas três atividades experimentais, que fazem uso de técnicas utilizadas nos Estudos da Tradução (Translog e Camtasia) e também em Psicolinguística (PsyScope). A atividade aplicada a tradutores experientes pretende investigar o processo de tradução de DPs com múltipla modificação tendo em vista as pausas relacionadas à tradução da estrutura, os tipos de modificação realizados e as fases do processo tradutório em que ocorrem (redação ou revisão). Ademais, procura-se avaliar se o comportamento global dos participantes se repete no nível local, relativo à tradução dos DPs. As atividades aplicadas aos tradutores novatos buscam investigar a noção da diferença entre núcleos e modificadores em estruturas de DP com múltiplos modificadores e, também, a consideração de elementos de desambiguização, como posição do adjetivo e gênero dos modificadores, ao se avaliar a adequabilidade de uma tradução. Os resultados sugerem que o número de modificadores e tipo de modificador estão relacionados a custo de processamento da estrutura em inglês. Os resultados também mostram que os tradutores experientes e novatos conseguem identificar corretamente o núcleo da estrutura e utilizam estratégias de minimização de custo, como realizar modificações ao longo do fluxo do processo tradutório, optar por estruturas não ambíguas e que não causem algum tipo de estranhamento na língua-alvo. Percebe-se, portanto, uma atenção à organização da estrutura em português e uma preocupação em produzir e optar por construções menos custosas para o tradutor e o potencial público leitor. / [en] This thesis, which lies at the interface between Psycholinguisticsand Translation Studies, is aimed at investigating issues related to processing cost involved in the translation of complex DPs with multiple premodification (by two or three noun and adjective modifiers) in English. In addition, based on an interdisciplinary approach, this thesis is also aimed at characterizing the translation process based on evidences regarding DPs and cost related to it. Therefore, in order to verify the types of research conducted in the field of Translation Process Research, as well as the main translation process models, the literature on Translation Process Researchis reviewed. DP structures and the characteristics of premodification in English are also mentioned, so that it can be possible to evaluate the degree to which structural differences between the English and Portuguese languages cause difficulties concerning the translation of this type of phrase and, consequently, processing cost attributed to it. Among the factors that may lead to processing cost, we especially analyze cost related to the DP structure, such as the difference of head and modifier positions in English and Portuguese (making it necessary to switch the order of the items in the structure), the number and types of modifiers and the potential syntactic ambiguity present in some types of DPs, which could possibly lead to phrasereanalysis. We also verify cost related to the global translation process, considering the interruption of the translation process flow, the editing procedures applied to DPs and the phases of the translation process in which they take place. In order to analyze cost related to the DPs, three experiments were designed by employing the techniques used in Translation Process Research (Translog and Camtasia) and in Psycholinguistics research(PSyscope).The activity conducted with experienced translators is aimed at investigating the process involved in the translation of DPs with multiple modifiers regarding the pauses related to the translation of the structure, the types of editing procedures adopted and the phases of the translation process in which they occur (drafting or revision phase). The activities conducted with novice translators are aimed at evaluating if they are aware of the differences regarding heads and modifiers in DP structures with multiple modifiers in both languages and if, when evaluating the plausibility of a translation, they take into account morphosyntactic aspects related to the adjective position and gender of the modifiers in order to avoid possible ambiguity. The results suggest that the number and type of modifiers are related to processing cost involved in the DP structure in English. The results also show that the experienced and novice translators are able to correctly identify the head of the structure and make use of strategies in order to reduce cost, such as adopting editing procedures during the flow of translation process, choosing non-ambiguous structures in the Portuguese renderings or avoiding any option that could call the attention forbeing awkward. It is, therefore, possible to observe that the participants pay attention to the organization of the structure in Portuguese and they are also worried about rendering or choosing structures that are less cognitively demanding for the translator and the reader.

Bedside computer terminals are an approach to data entry that is maximally effective to meet the challenges facing nursing today and process hospital information. The purpose of this evaluation research study was to determine if bedside computers are justifiable through a cost-benefit analysis. Costbenefit analysis was done to determine whether the benefits outweigh the costs involved in implementing a bedside computer system.The General Systems Theory formulated by Ludwig von Betalanaffy was the theoretical framework utilized for this project. A non-standardized checklist of factors was developed from the literature review. The factors included were patient census, acuity, lost charges, reimbursement denials, and medicine errors. Interrater reliability was established by a panel ofthree experts on cost-benefit analysis.A convenience sample of one 42 bed nursing unit from a large metropolitan Midwestern hospital was chosen for data retrieval. One month of financial data was analyzed for this study. The procedures for the protection of human subjects were followed.The study showed that bedside computers are costjustified.-based on the results of the cost-benefit analysis. The projection of cost versus benefits realized from the bedside terminals was limited due to the unwillingness of vendors to share actual cost information. Reimbursement denials were unable to be retrieved because of the financial accounting practices of the institution chosen.A prospective approach rather than the retrospective approach utilized in this study may produce the data necessary for reimbursement denials. Recognizing its limitations, the results of this study should be considered when contemplating the purchase of bedside terminals or the increasingly more advanced technology of hand-held and voice activated computers. / School of Nursing

No description available.

[pt] Neste estudo investigam-se as habilidades linguísticas de indivíduos incluídos no chamado Transtorno do Espectro Autista (TEA) e as dificuldades de linguagem observadas nesse quadro. A análise de problemas de linguagem no autismo, com dados do Português Brasileiro (PB), sob uma perspectiva que articula Teoria Linguística, em seus pressupostos minimalistas, com a pesquisa psicolinguística, motivou esta pesquisa. O trabalho aqui conduzido teve como objetivos verificar em que medida estruturas de alto custo, que apresentam dificuldades no Transtorno no Desenvolvimento da linguagem (TDL) acarretam dificuldades nesse quadro e, em particular, se os problemas apresentados na linguagem desses indivíduos podem estar situados na interface gramáticapragmática. Um estudo preliminar foi conduzido com jovens com diagnóstico de TEA com idade entre 16 e 21 anos – com graus de desenvolvimento intelectual e capacidade de comunicação variados e que podem ser situados nos níveis 2 e 3 de gravidade no espectro autista (DSM 5) – e um segundo um grupo de mesma média de idade também com diagnóstico de TEA, mas homogêneo, no que diz respeito ao graus de desenvolvimento intelectual e capacidade de comunicação, podendo ser situado no nível 1 do TEA. Os grupos foram submetidos a testes de compreensão do Módulo 1 da bateria MABILIN (Módulos de Avaliação de Habilidades Linguísticas) desenvolvido no Laboratório Psicolinguística e Aquisição da Linguagem (LAPAL/PUC-Rio). Trata-se de um teste de identificação de imagens associadas a estruturas que demandam alto custo de processamento, tais como passivas, relativas e interrogativas QU e QU+N. Os resultados obtidos apontam desempenho sugestivo de comprometimentos na linguagem no primeiro grupo, nas estruturas consideradas mais custosas, como passivas reversíveis e relativas/interrogativas de objeto, como também dificuldades em estruturas de menor custo, como relativas e interrogativas de sujeito. O segundo grupo TEA não apresentou dificuldades fora do esperado nodesenvolvimento típico. A continuidade da pesquisa foi feita com crianças autistas, com idade entre 7 e 13 anos, com grau de desenvolvimento intelectual e capacidade de comunicação compatíveis com o nível 1 de gravidade no espectro (DSM 5), com necessidade de apoio, e um grupo controle com desenvolvimento típico de linguagem. Todos os participantes (TEA e Controle) foram submetidos ao primeiro módulo do MABILIN. Os resultados da avaliação indicam pior desempenho do grupo TEA comparado ao grupo controle, embora não sejam sugestivos de comprometimento de linguagem no domínio da sintaxe. Para a interface gramática-pragmática foram concebidos cinco experimentos de compreensão de sentenças e/ou pequenos segmentos discursivos, incluindo uma tarefa interativa que também visou avaliar Teoria da Mente. Os testes focalizaram o reconhecimento/acesso de traços formais de elementos de categorias funcionais que interagem com sistemas intencionais da cognição mais ampla e codificam na língua a referência a entidades e eventos, constituindo uma interface entre gramática e pragmática: modo, aspecto e definitude. Questões pertinentes à ambiguidade na referência pronominal em posição de sujeito, e à interpretação de reflexivos e pronominais acusativos foram particularmente investigadas. O grupo TEA teve desempenho abaixo do grupo controle, no conjunto das tarefas, e se diferencia do grupo controle particularmente na compreensão de modo, de reflexivos e pronominais acusativos. / [en] This study investigates the linguistic abilities of individuals included in the so-called Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and the language difficulties observed in this cases. The analysis of language problems in autism, with data from Brazilian Portuguese (BP), from a perspective that articulates Linguistic Theory, in its minimalist assumptions, with the psycholinguistic research, motivated this research. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the linguistic abilities of BPspeakers in the autistic spectrum in order to verify the extent to which high costly structures cause them processing difficulties and, in particular, if their language difficulties can be related to problems in the Grammar-Pragmatics interface. A preliminary study was conducted with a adolescents diagnosed with ASD between 16 and 21 years of age, with varied degrees of intellectual development and communication skills and a age-matched group of ASD individual, homogeneous, with regard to degrees of intellectual development and communication skills Module 1 of MABILIN (Modules of Evaluation of Linguistic Abilities), developed in the Laboratory of Psycholinguistics and Acquisition of Language (LAPAL/PUCRio). It is a battery of picture-identication tasks for the assessment of the comprehension of highly costly structures: passives, relatives and WH/WH+N interrogatives. The results obtained indicate below-average performance in the first group in the most demanding sentences, such as reversible passives, object relative and WH+N questions, though lower cost structures, such as subject relative clauses, also presented difficulties for them. The performance of the second ASD group was compatible with typical development. The investigation continued with 7-13 year old autistic children with high degree of intellectual development and communication skills and an age-matched group of typically development children (TD). The scores of the ASD group were below those of the TD children in MABILIN 1, though the results were not indicative of syntactic impairment. Five experiments were conducte with these groups of children making use of pictureidentication tasks and an interactive task, in which Theory of Mind was alsoevaluated. The expreiments focused on children s knowledge/access to formal features of functional categories at the grammar-pragmatics interace: aspect, mood, definiteness. Ambiguity in pronominal reference and the comprehension of reflexives and accusative pronominals were also investigated. The ASD group showed lower scores than the TD group in all tasks taken together. These groups differed particularly in the comprehension of mood, reflexives and accusative pronominals.