Base teórica: Apesar de o escore da soma das caixas da escala de avaliação clínica da demência (CDR-SB) ser amplamente utilizado, sua aplicabilidade na avaliação do estadiamento da gravidade da demência e sua acurária para detectar as categorias diagnósticas não foram normatizadas em várias partes do mundo, inclusive no Brasil. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a validade diagnóstica de CDR-SB na detecção e no estadiamento do comprometimento cognitivo e da demência em uma amostra de pacientes brasileiros com comprometimento cognitivo leve amnéstico (CCL amnéstico), doença de Alzheimer (DA) e demência vascular (DV). Métodos: Os dados foram obtidos a partir do banco de dados do ambulatório de demência do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) e incluíram 407 participantes com idade superior a 50 anos (115 controles saudáveis, 41 pacientes com CCL amnéstico, 165 pacientes com DA e 86 pacientes com DV ou demência mista). Curvas ROC foram geradas para detectar os melhores pontos de cortes de CDR-SB. A escolaridade média foi 4 anos. Resultados: Um ponto de corte de CDR-SB ≥0,5 permite identificar corretamente indivíduos com CCL amnéstico de controles normais (sensibilidade de 100% e especificidade de 98,3%). Um ponto de corte ≥4,5 identifica corretamente os pacientes com CCL amnéstico dos pacientes com demência, todos juntos ou separadamente (DA e DV) (sensibilidade de 96,4% e especificidade de 100%) em 96,9% dos indivíduos. Os melhores intervalos de CDR-SB correspondentes aos escores globais de CDR foram de 0,5 a 4,0 para um escore global de 0,5; 4,5 a 8,0 para um escore global de 1,0; 8,5 a 14,0 para um escore global de 2,0; e 14,5 a 18,0 para um escore global de 3,0. Quando aplicados à amostra de validação, os escores variaram de 0,87 a 0,97. Conclusão: O escore CDR-SB apresentou boa validade clínica para detectar e classificar a gravidade de prejuízos cognitivos na população brasileira. / Background: The Clinical Dementia Rating Scale sum of the boxes (CDR-SB) score has been widely used its utility in staging dementia severity and accuracy to detect diagnostic categories in sociodemographic and cultural diverse regions of the world remains untested. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the CDR-SB diagnostic validity in detecting and staging cognitive impairment/dementia in a sample of Brazilian patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VD). Methods: Data were obtained from the Dementia Clinic of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) database and included 407 participants (115 healthy controls, 41 aMCI, 165 AD and, 86 VD). Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated to detect best CDR-SB cutoffs. Average education was 4 years. Results: A CDR-SB cutoff ≥0.5 was obtained to correctly identify aMCI from normal controls (sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 98.3%). The cutoff ≥4.5 correctly identified aMCI from dementia patients altogether or separately (AD and VD) (sensitivity of 96.4% and specificity of 100%) in 96.9% of the individuals. Optimal ranges of CDR-SB scores corresponding to the global CDR scores were 0.5 to 4.0 for a global score of 0.5, 4.5 to 8.0 for a global score of 1.0, 8.5 to 14.0 for a global score of 2.0, and 14.5 to 18.0 for a global score of 3.0. When applied to the validation sample, scores ranged from 0.87 to 0.97. Conclusion: The CDR-SB showed good clinical validity to detect and classify severity of cognitive impairment a Brazilian population.

Base teórica: Apesar de o escore da soma das caixas da escala de avaliação clínica da demência (CDR-SB) ser amplamente utilizado, sua aplicabilidade na avaliação do estadiamento da gravidade da demência e sua acurária para detectar as categorias diagnósticas não foram normatizadas em várias partes do mundo, inclusive no Brasil. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a validade diagnóstica de CDR-SB na detecção e no estadiamento do comprometimento cognitivo e da demência em uma amostra de pacientes brasileiros com comprometimento cognitivo leve amnéstico (CCL amnéstico), doença de Alzheimer (DA) e demência vascular (DV). Métodos: Os dados foram obtidos a partir do banco de dados do ambulatório de demência do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) e incluíram 407 participantes com idade superior a 50 anos (115 controles saudáveis, 41 pacientes com CCL amnéstico, 165 pacientes com DA e 86 pacientes com DV ou demência mista). Curvas ROC foram geradas para detectar os melhores pontos de cortes de CDR-SB. A escolaridade média foi 4 anos. Resultados: Um ponto de corte de CDR-SB ≥0,5 permite identificar corretamente indivíduos com CCL amnéstico de controles normais (sensibilidade de 100% e especificidade de 98,3%). Um ponto de corte ≥4,5 identifica corretamente os pacientes com CCL amnéstico dos pacientes com demência, todos juntos ou separadamente (DA e DV) (sensibilidade de 96,4% e especificidade de 100%) em 96,9% dos indivíduos. Os melhores intervalos de CDR-SB correspondentes aos escores globais de CDR foram de 0,5 a 4,0 para um escore global de 0,5; 4,5 a 8,0 para um escore global de 1,0; 8,5 a 14,0 para um escore global de 2,0; e 14,5 a 18,0 para um escore global de 3,0. Quando aplicados à amostra de validação, os escores variaram de 0,87 a 0,97. Conclusão: O escore CDR-SB apresentou boa validade clínica para detectar e classificar a gravidade de prejuízos cognitivos na população brasileira. / Background: The Clinical Dementia Rating Scale sum of the boxes (CDR-SB) score has been widely used its utility in staging dementia severity and accuracy to detect diagnostic categories in sociodemographic and cultural diverse regions of the world remains untested. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the CDR-SB diagnostic validity in detecting and staging cognitive impairment/dementia in a sample of Brazilian patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VD). Methods: Data were obtained from the Dementia Clinic of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) database and included 407 participants (115 healthy controls, 41 aMCI, 165 AD and, 86 VD). Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated to detect best CDR-SB cutoffs. Average education was 4 years. Results: A CDR-SB cutoff ≥0.5 was obtained to correctly identify aMCI from normal controls (sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 98.3%). The cutoff ≥4.5 correctly identified aMCI from dementia patients altogether or separately (AD and VD) (sensitivity of 96.4% and specificity of 100%) in 96.9% of the individuals. Optimal ranges of CDR-SB scores corresponding to the global CDR scores were 0.5 to 4.0 for a global score of 0.5, 4.5 to 8.0 for a global score of 1.0, 8.5 to 14.0 for a global score of 2.0, and 14.5 to 18.0 for a global score of 3.0. When applied to the validation sample, scores ranged from 0.87 to 0.97. Conclusion: The CDR-SB showed good clinical validity to detect and classify severity of cognitive impairment a Brazilian population.

The themes of this diploma work are the eGovernment in the Czech Republic and propose of effective communication with public administration. The first part examines the concept of eGovernment, compares different definitions and sets its own definition. Subsequently reveals the advantages and possible shortcomings of eGovernment and occupies with the principles in its implementation in public administration. The subject of the next section is a condition of eGovernment in the Czech Republic. It charts the development of its main pillars - data boxes, contact places Czech POINT and the system of basic registers. For each of them, I evaluate the current status and suggest possibilities for future development. The last part occupies with strategy for effective communication with public administration. Finally, I determine the main components for its successful implementation. The first main objective of this thesis is to evaluate the condition of eGovernment in the Czech Republic. There is crucial to reveal major shortcomings, including own suggestions of their eliminations and the possibility of further development. Another objective refers to effective communication with public administration. Its object is to design a strategy for this sphere. Consequently are defined pillars that will help increase communication efficiency. In the section on the analysis of the condition of eGovernment in the Czech Republic will be used different sources to achieve the objectives. These include articles on specialized servers, government press statements, journals, articles in the media and more. It will be used the rich experience of the author in relation to public services through his business activities. Strategy for effective communication will be determined by a number of methods adopted during the university studies. The work is contributive from the perspective of the public due to familiarization with the actual condition of the Czech eGovernment and also from the perspective of public administration through the proposal of partial improvements and solution of effective communication.

Denna studie utforskar vad som motiverar spelare till köp av utsmyckningar i spel. Studien undersöker League of Legends (2009) freemium modell och hur de uppnått sin framgång med säljandet av alternativa utseenden till spelkaraktären. Undersökningen studerar om och hur identifikation, demand through inconvenience och loot boxes påverkar spelarens beslut att köpa en viss spelutsmyckning. Data samlades in genom fokusgrupper och en mindre enkät där deltagarna fick diskutera frågor eller påståenden om ämnet. Målet är att skapa riktlinjer och ge råd till spelutvecklare för hur de uppnår framgång med säljandet av spelutsmyckningar och hur det blir omtyckt av spelare. Studien kommer fram till att spelare motiveras att köpa spelutmyckningar om spelet är underhållande och spelutsmyckningar är av god kvalitet, om spelaren favoriserar en viss karaktär och därmed köper många om inte alla spelutsmyckningar till den karaktären och slutligen väljer spelaren olika typer av spelutsmyckningar beroende på hur tävlingsinriktade de är. Dessutom finner undersökningen att identifikation inte var en drivande faktor till varför de köpte spelutsmyckningar i League of Legends (2009), men att det kan öka favorisering av en viss karaktär. Demand through inconvenience är förekommande i spelet League of Legends(2009) men rekommenderas att inte användas av etiska skäl. Loot boxes är inte värdesatta av League of Legends (2009) spelare men detta kräver ytterligare studier.

No description available.

Idén för en insamlingsprodukt för snusdosor uppstod när studenten såg behovet av en produkt som kan användas för insamling av snusdosor så att de inte hamnar på fel platser som på gatorna eller i naturen. Snusdosor är gjorda av återvinningsbara material, med hjälp av en insamlingsprodukt för snusdosor på platser som får många besökare kan snusdosor samlas in, sorteras rätt och kan i sin tur lämnas in på återvinningsstationer för återvinning. Tidigt i projektet gjordes en marknadsanalys och patentsökning för att ta reda på vilka produkter som finns på marknaden. En undersökning gjordes även för att ta reda på hur snusdosor sorteras på rätt sätt och återvinns. För att ta fram olika produktförslag för insamling av snusdosor användes några metoder som tankekarta, funktionsanalys, moodboard och brainstorming. För val av produktförslag och utvärdering användes metoderna Pugh matris, QFD och FMEA analys. Totalt har fem olika produktförslag tagits fram i form av 3D modeller med programvaran Creo Parametric 4.0. Av de fem olika produktförslagen valdes ett att jobba vidare med. Det valda produktförslaget vidareutvecklades efter identifiering av potentiella risker med en FMEA analys. Efter vidareutveckling valdes komponenter och material för det valda produktförslaget. Resultatet av projektet blev ett produktförslag för insamling av snusdosor, där snusare kan lämna in sina snusdosor för återvinning. Produktförslaget är tänkt att användas i inomhusmiljöer som får många besökare, exempelvis gallerier, tunnelbanor, flygplatser caféer med mera. Enligt målbeskrivningen har projektmålet uppfyllts då ett produktförslag för insamling av snusdosor har tagits fram i form av en 3D modell. / The idea for a collection product for snus boxes arose when the student saw the need for a product that can be used to collect snus boxes so that they do not end up in the wrong places such as on the streets or in nature. Snus boxes are made of recyclable materials, with the help of a collection product for snus boxes in places that receive a lot of visitors, snus boxes can be collected, sorted correctly, and can eventually be handed in to recycling stations for recycling. Early in the project, a market analysis and patent search were carried out to find out which products are on the market. An investigation was also carried out to find out how snus boxes are sorted correctly and recycled. In order to come up with different product proposals for collecting snus boxes, various methods were used such as mind map, function analysis, mood board and brainstorming. For the selection of product proposals and evaluation, the methods Pugh matrix, QFD and FMEA analysis were used. A total of five different product proposals have been developed in the form of 3D models with the software Creo Parametric 4.0. Of the five different product proposals, one was chosen to continue to work with. The selected product proposal was further developed after identification of potential risks with an FMEA analysis. After further development, components and materials were chosen for the selected product proposal. The result of the project was a product proposal for the collection of snus boxes, where snus users can hand in their snus boxes for recycling. The product proposal is intended to be used in indoor environments that receive many visitors, for example shopping malls, subways, airports, cafes and more. According to the goal description, the project goal has been met as a product proposal for collecting snus boxes has been developed in the form of a 3D model.

Yes / The lack of separation between urgent and non-urgent medical goods encourages sub-optimal vehicle fleet operations owing to the time critical nature of urgent items. An unattended electronic locker bank, to which individual urgent items can be delivered thereby separating urgent and non-urgent supply, was proposed for the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, UK. This concept was quantified using ‘basic’ and ‘intuitive’ hill climbing optimisation models; and qualitatively using staff interviews and expert reviews. Results indicated that a locker bank with a fixed height (1.7 m) and depth (0.8 m) required a length of 4 m (basic model) and 3.63 m (intuitive model), to accommodate 100% of urgent consignments for a typical week. Staff interviews indicated the wider benefits such as staff personal deliveries.

No description available.

No description available.

The focus of this thesis was the development of failure prognosis methods (prognostics) in rotating machinery with use of multiple sensors digital signal processing and machine learning techniques. The motivation stems from the void in literature concerning prognostics in meshing gearboxes. Moreover, there are several but inconclusive works regarding bearing prognosis. Few research groups have studied multi-hour fatigue gear experiments and this was one of the contributions of this thesis. Moreover, the study expanded beyond the sheer application of vibration monitoring with the addition of an Oil Debris Monitoring probe (ODM) as well as Acoustic emission (AE). The method of AE monitoring is, once again, proposed as a robust technique for failure prognosis being better correlated with gear pitting level compared to the classic vibration monitoring technique. Moreover, judging from ODM recordings the gear pitting comprises of two phases i) a linear phase, with an almost constant pitting rate and ii) a very short non linear phase where the pitting rate increases exponentially, an explicit indication of a critical failure. Multi-hour gear experiments that are close to real scale applications are very demanding in time as well as in invested capital. To bypass this shortfall a gear failure like simulation is proposed. The simulation framework is based on real life experiments and is applied to assess a number of data-driven Remaining Useful Life (RUL) estimation techniques namely i) Proportional Hazards Μodel (PHM), ii) ε- Support Vector Regression ε-SVR and iii) Exponential extrapolation based on bootstrap sampling. In the current thesis a feature extraction scheme for prognosis is proposed and assessed based on time domain, frequency domain statistical features and Wavelet Packet (WP) energy derived from AE and vibration recordings. ICA is proposed as a preferable fusion technique for gear failure prognostics. Application of ICA for feature fusion provided a clear improvement regarding the earlier presented bootstrap extrapolation technique. Bearings are also taken into account since they are closely connected to gearboxes. In the current thesis a wavelet denoising method is proposed for bearing vibration recordings aiming to the improvement of the diagnostic and prognostic potential of vibration. Finally the importance of data fusion is highlighted in the case of bearings. It is observed that a feature extraction scheme can generalize the application of prognostics, even in cases where RMS may yield no important degradation trend. / Η παρούσα εργασία εστιάζεται στην ανάπτυξη μεθοδολογιών πρόβλεψης τελικής αστοχίας σε περιστρεφόμενα συστήματα με χρήση πολλαπλών αισθητήρων και μεθόδων μηχανικής μάθησης και επεξεργασίας σήματος. Το κίνητρο προήλθε από το κενό που υπάρχει στη βιβλιογραφία όσον αφορά την προγνωστική σε κιβώτια ταχυτήτων. Η προγνωστική σε έδρανα έχει μεν μελετηθεί αλλά σε μικρό βαθμό και η παρούσα εργασία έρχεται να συμβάλλει και σε αυτό τον τομέα. Στα πλαίσια αυτής της εργασίας εκπονήθηκε ένας αριθμός πειραμάτων κόπωσης κιβωτίων ταχυτήτων. Η μελέτη επεκτάθηκε πέραν της παρακολούθησης κατάστασης με τη μέθοδο των κραδασμών και συγκεκριμένα μελετήθηκαν καταγραφές σωματιδίων σιδήρου στο λιπαντικό (ODM) καθώς και Ακουστική Εκπομπής (AE). Η μέθοδος ΑΕ ευρέθη πιο στενά συσχετισμένη με τη σταδιακή υποβάθμιση της ακεραιότητας του κιβωτίου ταχυτήτων σε σχέση με τις καταγραφές κραδασμών. Επίσης με βάση τις καταγραφές του αισθητήρα σωματιδίων σιδήρου διακρίθηκαν δύο στάδια  υποβάθμισης i) μια γραμμική περιοχή με σχεδόν σταθερό ρυθμό απελευθέρωσης υλικού από την επιφάνεια των δοντιών και ii) μια σύντομη αλλά έντονα μη γραμμική αύξηση στο ρυθμό αυτό πολύ κοντά στο τέλος της λειτουργίας του κιβωτίου. Tα πολύωρα πειράματα κόπωσης σε γρανάζια είναι πολύ απαιτητικά. Για να παρακαμφθεί αυτή η δυσκολία αναπτύχθηκε ένα φαινομενολογικό μοντέλο για αναπαραγωγή χρονοσειρών που ομοιάζουν σε καταγραφές γραναζιών σε κόπωση. Το μοντέλο αυτό στηρίχθηκε σε πραγματικά πειράματα κόπωσης. Έτσι έγινε δυνατό να εξεταστούν και να συγκριθούν ένας αριθμός μεθοδολογιών εκτίμησης εναπομένουσας ζωής και συγκεκριμένα i) Proportional Hazards Model (PHM), ii) ε- Support Vector Regression ε-SVR και iii) Exponential extrapolation βασισμένο σε μια διαδικασία bootstrap sampling. Στην παρούσα μελέτη προτείνεται ένα σύνολο παραμέτρων προερχόμενο από το πεδίο της συχνότητας, του χρόνου και κυματοπακέτων. Αυτό, συνδυαζόμενο με μια διαδικασία σύμπτυξης δεδομένων (ανάλυση σε πρωταρχικές και ανεξάρτητες συνιστώσες) αξιοποιείται για πρόγνωση σε γρανάζια σε κόπωση. Η τεχνική ανεξάρτητων συνιστωσών προτείνεται σαν προτιμότερη από τη σκοπιά της προγνωστικής καθώς βελτιώνει την εκτίμηση της εναπομένουσας ζωής. Η εργασία επεκτάθηκε και σε έδρανα κύλισης. Προτάθηκε μια διαδικασία wavelet denoising η οποία ενισχύει τόσο τη διαγνωστική όσο και την προγνωστική δυνατότητα του αισθητήρα κραδασμών. Τέλος, η σημασία της εξαγωγής παραμέτρων υπογραμμίζεται και στην περίπτωση της προγνωστικής σε έδρανα. Συνδυάζοντας πολλαπλές παραμέτρους και αισθητήρες κραδασμών μαζί με ένα μοντέλο ε-SVR παρέχεται ένα ολοκληρωμένο μοντέλο πιθανοτικής εκτίμησης εναπομένουσας ζωής σε έδρανα κύλισης ακόμα και σε περιπτώσεις που η τιμή RMS των κραδασμών δεν παρέχει πληροφορία.