The detection of weak, ground-moving targets can be improved through effective utilization of additional target signal energy collected over an extended dwell time. The signal model used in conventional radar processing limits integration of signal energy over an extended dwell. Two solutions that consider the complexity of the extended-dwell signal model and effectively combine signal energy collected over a long dwell are presented. The first solution is a single-channel algorithm that provides an estimate of the optimal detector to maximize output signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio for the extended dwell time signal. Rather than searching for the optimal detector in an intractably large filter bank that contains all combinations of phase components, the single-channel algorithm projects dictionary entries against the data to estimate the signal’s linear and nonlinear phase components sequentially with small, phase-specific dictionaries in a multistage process. When used as the detector, the signal model formed from the estimated phase components yields near optimal performance for a wide range of target parameters for dwell times up to four seconds. In comparison, conventional radar processing methods are limited to an integration time of approximately 100 milliseconds. The second solution is a multichannel, multistage algorithm based on element-space pre-Doppler space-time-adaptive processing with two modifications that make it suitable for detection of weak targets whose energy is collected over an extended dwell time. The multichannel solution detects targets with lower radial velocities at significantly lower signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) than conventional radar processing methods. The decrease in required input SNR for the multichannel solution as compared to conventional methods nearly doubles the detection range for a typical target of interest. Future related research includes extension of these concepts to other radar applications and investigation of algorithm performance for the multiple-target scenario.

Thesis (MScEng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The thesis details the design, construction and experimental evaluation of 30W, 35W and 250W L-Band LDMOS Radar amplifiers. Each amplifier module contains an integrated high speed power supply in order to optimize RF pulse repeatability and to improve radar MTI factor (Moving Target Indication.) As part of the work, a pulsed RF measurement system for measuring the dynamic I-V curves of a power FET was developed. Work was also done on low impedance S-parameter measurement test fixtures for the characterisation of power FETs. These measurement systems generated design information which was used in the development of the L-Band power amplifiers / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis beskryf die ontwerp, bou en experimentele evaluering van „n 30W, 35W en 250W L-band LDMOS radarversterker. Elke versterker bevat ook „n geintegreerde hoë-spoed kragbron om optimum RF pulsherhaalbaarheid te verseker en die radar se „MTI (Moving Target Indication)‟ te verbeter. „n RF-pulsmetingstelsel is ook ontwikkel om die dinamiese I-V kurwes van „n hoë-krag FET te meet. Verder is daar ook gewerk aan „n toetsopstelling vir lae-impedansie S-parameters om hoë-krag FETs te karakteriseer. Hierdie toetsopstelling is gebruik om ontwerpsdata te genereer wat gebruik is in die ontwerp van die L-band kragversterkers.

Submitted by Edineia Teixeira (edineia.teixeira@unioeste.br) on 2019-03-20T16:55:18Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Emerson_Durso_2018.pdf: 2116178 bytes, checksum: 1329ce910982ce035edafaacf677f31c (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2019-03-20T16:55:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Emerson_Durso_2018.pdf: 2116178 bytes, checksum: 1329ce910982ce035edafaacf677f31c (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-11-13 / Local products, recognized as Geographical Indications, are strongly related to the nature, the people, the culture and traditions. From such perspective, they show up as tools to promote the sustainability of the regions where products are made and as an alternative to differentiate and promote local products. This work has been motivated by the studying economic, environmental and social dimensions of sustainability in the development of the collective strategy underway in beekeeping in the western region of Paraná, especially by its contribution to the consolidation of the Geographical Indication. In the case under study, the Geographical Indication was recognized in July 2017 as Indication of West of Paraná product. Coofamel is the representative entity of Apis Africanizada and Jatái bee honey producers from that region. For this purpose, questionnaires were applied to the president of Coofamel and to representatives of partner institutions. These surveys in the field aimed to know the support of partners and beekeepers for the sustainability of the Geographical Indication. Also from a questionnaire, information about the cooperative member's perception about the influence of the cooperative on the dimensions of sustainability and collective actions has been raised. As a main result, a significant support from the regional entities in the promotion of agriculture with low environmental impact has been identified. Along with the supporting entities, beekeepers promote actions to recover degraded areas, by planting native plants, conserving natural resources and biodiversity, among other actions. It has also been noticed that the contribution of the partners and the union of beekeepers made it possible to build and adapt beneficiation structures, to qualify production in the field and in the processing, as well access to the marketplace and to innovation, essential factors for the economic sustainability of the collective initiative. The results showed that the collective action established in beekeeping in the West of Paraná provided greater involvement of the family of producers with the activity and in the promotion of community quality of life. Honey producers in the region have made partnerships with other producer associations, establishing interaction and socialization with actors not only in beekeeping, but in other activities as well. The strengthening of associativism allowed the exchange of information among beekeepers to improve the honey production process. The trainings promoted by the partner entities enabled beekeepers to escape from clandestine commercialization and to offer a safe product for their own consumption and for the marketplace. Thus, collective action has also contributed to the social dimension of sustainability. In view of the above, it is concluded that the strong institutional support contributes strongly to the sustainability and consolidation of the Geographical Indication. However, there was a trend in the increase in the number of cooperative members and the presence of “associated riders”, those who only want to take advantage of the collective effort without making any contribution. Among the recommendations, the attention has been given to Coofamel´s communication with its members in order to ensure the consolidation of the Geographical Indication / Os produtos de origem reconhecidos como Indicações Geográficas guardam forte relação com a natureza, as pessoas, a cultura e as tradições. Nessa perspectiva, surgem como ferramentas para promoção da sustentabilidade das regiões onde se encontram e como alternativa de diferenciação e promoção dos produtos locais. O que motivou realizar esse trabalho foi estudar as dimensões econômicas, ambientais e sociais da sustentabilidade no desenvolvimento da estratégia coletiva em curso na apicultura da região Oeste do Paraná, em especial sua contribuição para a consolidação da Indicação Geográfica. No caso em estudo, a Indicação Geográfica foi reconhecida em julho de 2017 como Indicação de Procedência Oeste do Paraná. A Coofamel é entidade representante dos produtores de mel de abelhas Apis Africanizada e Jatái dessa região. Para tanto, foi aplicada entrevista estruturada ao presidente da Coofamel e questionário junto aos representantes de instituições parceiras. Esses levantamentos no campo objetivaram conhecer o apoio dos parceiros e dos apicultores para a sustentabilidade da Indicação Geográfica. Também a partir de um questionário, levantaram-se informações sobre a percepção dos cooperados a respeito da influência da cooperativa nas dimensões da sustentabilidade e das ações coletivas. Como principais resultados, observou-se um significativo apoio das entidades regionais na promoção de agricultura com baixo impacto ambiental. Em conjunto com as entidades apoiadoras, os apicultores promovem ações de recuperação de áreas degradadas com plantio de plantas nativas, conservação dos recursos naturais e da biodiversidade, entre outros. Foi constatado também que a contribuição dos parceiros e a união dos apicultores possibilitaram construir e adequar estruturas de beneficiamento, qualificar a produção no campo e no processamento, o acesso ao mercado e à inovação, fatores essenciais para a sustentabilidade econômica da iniciativa coletiva. Os resultados demonstraram que a ação coletiva estabelecida na apicultura no Oeste do Paraná proporcionou maior envolvimento da família dos produtores com a atividade e promoção da qualidade de vida da comunidade. Os produtores de mel da região firmaram parcerias com outras associações de produtores, estabelecendo interação e socialização com atores não só da apicultura, mas de outras atividades. O fortalecimento do associativismo permitiu a troca de informações entre os apicultores para melhorar o processo de produção do mel. As capacitações promovidas pelas entidades parceiras possibilitaram aos apicultores sair da clandestinidade na comercialização e ofertar um alimento seguro para o próprio consumo e para o mercado. Assim, a ação coletiva trouxe contribuições também à dimensão social da sustentabilidade. Diante do exposto, conclui-se que o forte apoio institucional contribui fortemente para a sustentabilidade e para a consolidação da Indicação Geográfica. No entanto, foi observada uma tendência no aumento do número de cooperados e a presença de associados carona, aqueles que querem apenas tirar benefício do esforço coletivo sem prestar sua contribuição. Entre as recomendações, colocou-se a atenção da Coofamel com a comunicação dos associados de forma a assegurar a consolidação da Indicação Geográfica.

In 1992 the European geographical indication system was established. Through the years more than thousand of foodstuffs were registered to the system. Czech Republic joined the system through access to EU in 2004. In this paper the consumer's willingness to pay for selected product that carries geographical indication is analysed. For analysis the panel data from brewing industry are used. The results of the work are that the presence of a protected geographical indication in the interaction with other features of the product may affect the willingness of consumers to pay for the product. For example, was shown that the interaction of the protected geographical indications and bottled draft beer can influence the consumer's willingness to pay for GI product.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T17:26:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Jairo Ferrandin.pdf: 1505220 bytes, checksum: fff418bd764935e649788a200a263405 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-10-08 / This work intends to resume the project of a phenomenological explanation of the Pauline letters concerning the original experience of primitive Christianity, drawn up by Heidegger in his course Einleitung in die Phänomenologie der Religion, in 1920-21. In it, the philosopher seeks to develop new means of access to religious phenomenon based on the notion of experience of life in its factual historicity. This is new reappropriation of tradition, not in the sense of objectivity and the repetition of content, theories and doctrines, but the destruction, which allows reconnecting from the experiences of the generation sense. The notion of facticity permeates all the peculiar characteristics that encompass the initial thought of Heidegger, particularly during their first academic activities. Will also enable the construction of new concept of philosophy, known originally as science or as hermeneutics of facticity, with sense and concepts - the formal indication - that distinguish the ideals of scientific objectivity. The resumption of Heidegger's project also has the intent to highlight how the religious and Christian theology occupied a central place in the early development of the question of the sense of being, and what their possible contributions and directions decisive for the discussion of key issues generated the basic ideas of Sein und Zeit / O presente trabalho pretende retomar o projeto de uma explicação fenomenológica das cartas paulinas referentes à experiência originária do cristianismo primitivo, elaborado por Heidegger em seu curso Einleitung in die Phänomenologie der Religion, de 1920-21. Nele, o filósofo procura desenvolver nova modalidade de acesso ao fenômeno religioso partindo da noção de experiência fática da vida em sua historicidade. Trata-se de nova reapropriação da tradição, não no sentido de repetição de objetividades e conteúdos, de teorias e doutrinas, mas pela destruição, que permite reaproximar-se das experiências geradoras do sentido. A noção de faticidade perpassa o conjunto das características peculiares que circunscrevem o pensamento inicial de Heidegger, especialmente no período de suas primeiras atividades acadêmicas. Possibilitará também a construção de novo conceito de filosofia, denominada como ciência originária ou como hermenêutica da faticidade, com sentido e conceitos próprios - os indícios formais - que a distinguirá dos ideais da objetivação científica. A retomada deste projeto heideggeriano tem também o intento de salientar como a dimensão religiosa e a teologia cristã ocuparam lugar central no desenvolvimento inicial da questão do sentido do ser, e quais suas possíveis contribuições e indicações decisivas para a discussão de temas fundamentais geradores das ideias básicas de Sein und Zeit

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common life-restricting, genetically inherited disease among Caucasians affecting approximately 30,000 people in the United States. Lung disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in CF. A number of oral, inhaled, and intravenous therapies are available to combat CF lung disease. Of these, this research project focused on inhaled dornase alfa, oral azithromycin, inhaled tobramycin, and inhaled aztreonam. Data to address three research aims were requested and obtained from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Patient Registry (CFFPR). The first aim examined the use of inhaled dornase alfa in younger children with CF. With no clinical efficacy data of dornase alfa in children ≤ 6 years of age, the study utilized subsequent forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) measured between 6 - 7 years of age, to assess the effectiveness of long-term dornase alfa use ≤ 6 years of age. Propensity score methods were used to reduce the likelihood of treatment indication bias. The results suggested that receiving treatment with dornase alfa before 6 years of age did not improve FEV₁ between 6 - 7 years. Unmeasured covariates leading to treatment indication bias were likely one of the key explanations for these results. Additionally, lack of a more sensitive outcome than FEV₁ to assess lung function in young patients with early lung damage was thought to be another reason for the failure to reject the null hypothesis. The second aim assessed the long-term clinical effectiveness of chronic azithromycin use on the rate of FEV₁ decline in CF patients between 6 - 20 years of age. This study was novel in that the rate of FEV₁ decline, rather than change in FEV₁ from baseline, was the primary outcome, which was characterized using propensity score matching followed by a linear mixed model analysis. The results of the analysis suggested that the rate of FEV₁ decline was slower in patients who did not receive chronic treatment with azithromycin. Treatment indication bias was thought to play an important role in the direction of the association between treatment and outcome. Associations between FEV₁ % predicted and many of the other study variables included in the analysis were consistent with previous studies. The final aim compared the clinical effectiveness of a combination of inhaled tobramycin and aztreonam with inhaled tobramycin alone on the rate of FEV₁ decline in CF patients between 6 - 20 years of age. This aim was novel in that the effect of this combination treatment on rate of decline in FEV₁ has never been assessed. A linear mixed model analysis was used after matching patients in the two treatment groups on their propensity scores. Once again, the results were contrary to the alternative hypothesis with the combination group having a steeper rate of FEV₁ decline than the group that was treated with tobramycin alone. An important reason for this result was thought to be unresolved treatment indication bias that could not be eliminated even with the use of the propensity score methods used to test the associated hypothesis. The use of validated methods of analysis, i.e., propensity scores, to counter treatment indication bias using the largest available observational dataset for CF, was one of the key strengths of this study. Moreover, this study highlighted important weaknesses in the CFFPR with regards to lack of data on patient and physician-level variables - an area of active interest for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

The cause and best treatment option for mechanical low back pain due to disc degeneration remains unsolved, despite `spinal fusion' being the gold standard of surgical treatment, post conservative care, for a very long time. However, the potential drawbacks of spinal fusion and the ongoing evolution in the understanding of normal and symptomatic spine biomechanics, biology and mechanobiology in conjunction with the advancements in material sciences, and tissue engineering has led to a change in the clinical perspective towards treatment methodologies for spinal disorders. Clinically, a gradual shift in philosophy is being observed from a `one size fits all', i.e. spinal fusion for all patients with symptomatic low back pain to a `customized approach', i.e. patient and indication specific treatment modalities for spine care. This philosophy has laid the ground for concepts of `motion preservation' and `dynamic stabilization', the former being an established treatment modality in orthopedics for a long time. The aim of the current study is to perform a comprehensive scientific investigation to understand, evaluate and establish the in vitro biomechanical characteristics and performance of indication specific treatment modalities incorporating the concept of Posterolateral Disc Arthroplasty and Posterior Dynamic Stabilization for the treatment of symptomatic mechanical back pain. The results of this comprehensive study may help the clinicians to make an informed decision while selecting and designing a treating modality for their patients. To this end, the current thesis was undertaken to study the biomechanics of indication specific treatment modalities like motion preservation and dynamic stabilization with a goal to guide clinical and product development decision making. Through the comprehensive biomechanical investigation conducted in the current thesis we were able to theoretically prove the importance of a customized approach towards the treatment of spine care. Also, the most important conclusion of the biomechanical investigation was the fact that Range of Motion results alone are not sufficient to draw significant conclusions. It is imperative that in depth analysis of the quality of motion through the determination of instantaneous center of rotation is extremely important. Previous studies have shown only a single center of rotation between the extremes of motion which is also insufficient as the end points do not determine the path taken to reach the endpoints. This in depth analysis is also important for biomedical engineers to design and develop physiologically viable implants that will mimic the performance of the physiologic spine. Clinical studies are extremely important as a next step towards validating this customized approach towards spine care.

名古屋大学博士学位論文 学位の種類 : 博士(医学)(論文) 学位授与年月日:平成3年9月14日 安田公氏の博士論文として提出された

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is an imaging technique based on the radio reflectivity of the target being imaged. SAR instruments offer many advantages over optical imaging due to the ability to form coherent images in inclement weather, at night, and through ground cover. High resolution is achieved in azimuth through a synthesized aperture much larger than the physical antenna of the imaging device. Consequently, proper focusing requires accurate information about the relative motion between the antenna phase center and the scene. Any unknown target velocity, acceleration, rotation, or vibration will introduce errors in the image. This work addresses a novel method of focusing a moving target in a SAR image through the estimation of various motion parameters. The target azimuth position is determined through monopulse radar, at which point range velocity and acceleration are estimated across a series of overlapping sub-apertures. Cross-range velocity is then estimated through a search to optimize an image quality metric such as entropy or contrast. A final focused image is then generated based on this velocity vector. Methods of extending this work for a single phase center system are considered. This technique is demonstrated with real radar data from an experimental system, and the performance of this technique is compared both subjectively and with a variety of image metrics to the MITRE keystone technique. Finally, extensions to this current line of research are considered. / text

BACKGROUND: Morbidity, defined as disease history, is an important and well-known confounder in epidemiologic studies. Numerous methods have been developed over the last 30 years to measure morbidity via valid and reliable processes. OBJECTIVE: The goal of the current study was to evaluate, via comparative predictive validity assessment, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Studies Hierarchical Condition Category (CMS-HCC) comorbidity model for its ability to improve the prediction of 12-month all-cause mortality among a Medicare population compared to previously published comorbidity index models. There were three specific aims: (1) challenge the current state of risk adjustment among aged populations via an evaluation of the comparative predictive validity of one novel and four existing models to predict all-cause mortality within 12 months among a heterogeneous population of Medicare beneficiaries; (2) Investigate the comparative predictive validity of the five models to predict all-cause mortality within 12 months among two homogenous populations diagnosed with ischemic heart disease and selected cancers, including prostate cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, pancreas cancer, and endometrial cancer; and (3) measure each comorbidity model's ability to control for a known example of confounding by indication. METHODS: A retrospective cohort design was used for all specific aims. Study 1 included 257,641 Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in three Medicare Advantage prescription drug health plans in Alabama, Florida, or Ohio in 2010 and 2011. Study 2 limited analysis to 14,260 and 66,440 beneficiaries with administrative evidence of selected cancers or ischemic heart disease in 2010, respectively. Study 3 limited analysis to the beneficiaries with ischemic heart disease. For each participant, comorbidity risk scores for the following five models were generated using administrative data from 2010: an age/sex model, the Romano adaption of the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) model, the Putnam adaptation of the Chronic Disease Score Model (CDS), the CMS version of the Hierarchical Condition Category (CMS-HCC) model, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) adaptation of the Elixhauser model. The prospective predictive validity of the models to predict all-cause mortality during 2011 was compared via the c statistic test. Participants with ischemic heart disease were randomly allocated retrospectively to either 1) a group that had "received" a hypothetical "Drug A" in 2010 or 2) a group that had "received" a hypothetical "Drug B" in 2010. In order to evaluate the impact of confounding by indication, a weighting factor was applied to the randomization process in order to force the 33,220 participants randomized to "Drug A" to have a 2.736 times higher likelihood of having at least one acute inpatient hospitalization in 2010. Each comorbidity model's ability to control for the contrived confounding by indication was evaluated via relative risk of death. RESULTS: The CMS-HCC model had statistically significant higher c-statistic values than all four existing comorbidity indices among the heterogeneous Medicare Advantage population (N=257,641) and the homogeneous populations with breast cancer (N=4,160) and prostate cancer (N=6,594). The CMS-HCC model displayed similar performance for lung cancer (N=1,384), colorectal cancer (N=1,738), endometrial cancer (N=232), and ischemic heart disease (N=66,640) and statistically significant lower performance for pancreas cancer (N=152). The log-transformed CMS-HCC model was the only model to generate a non-significant association between exposure to "Drug A" and subsequent mortality. CONCLUSION: In general, the CMS-HCC model is the preferred comorbidity measure due to its predictive performance. However, other comorbidity models may be optimal for diseases with low prevalence and/or high mortality. Researchers should carefully and thoughtfully select a comorbidity model to assess the existence and direction of confounding. The CMS-HCC model should be log-transformed when used as a dependent variable since the score is a ratio level measurement that displays a normal distribution when log transformed. The resulting score is less likely to violate the assumptions (i.e. violations of normality) of common statistical models due to extreme values. The national availability of CMS-HCC scores for all Medicare beneficiaries provides researchers with access to a new tool to measure co-morbidity among older Americans using an empirically weighted, single score. In terms of policy, it is recommended that CMS produce CMS-HCC scores for all Medicare beneficiaries on a rolling 12 month basis for each month during the year. The availability of monthly scores would increase the ease of use of the score, as well as help facilitate more rapid adoption of the tool.