Satellite radiometers are used to remotely measure properties of the Earth's surface. Radiometers enable wide spatial coverage and daily temporal coverage. Radiometer measurements are used in a wide array of applications, including freeze/thaw states inference, vegetation index calculations, rainfall estimation, and soil moisture estimation. Resolution enhancement of these radiometer measurements enable finer details to be resolved and improve our understanding of Earth. The Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) radiometer was launched in April 2014 with a goal to produce high resolution soil moisture estimates. However, due to hardware failure of the radar channels, prepared algorithms could no longer be used. Current algorithms utilize a narrow spatial and temporal overlap between the SMAP radiometer and the SENTINEL-1 radar to produce high resolution soil moisture estimates that are spatially and temporally limited. This thesis explores the use of resolution enhancing algorithms to produce high resolution soil moisture estimates without the spatial coverage limitations caused by using multiple sensors. Two main approaches are considered: calculating the iterative update in brightness temperature and calculating the update in soil moisture. The best performing algorithm is the Soil Moisture Image Reconstruction (SMIR) algorithm that is a variation of the Radiometer form of the Scatterometer Image Reconstruction (rSIR) algorithm that has been adapted to operate in parameter space. This algorithm utilizes a novel soil moisture measurement response function (SMRF) in the reconstruction. It matches or exceeds the performance of other algorithms and allows for wide spatial coverage.

Scatterometry and radiometry are used to obtain measurements of Earth properties with extensive spatial coverage at daily or near-daily temporal resolution. Their measurements are used in many climate studies and weather applications, such as iceberg tracking, ocean wind estimation, and volumetric soil moisture measurements. The spatial resolution of these data products ranges from a few kilometers to tens of kilometers. Techniques to enhance the spatial resolution of these products help reveal finer scale features, but come at the cost of increased noise. This thesis explores the application of neural networks as a possible method to handle the noise and uncertainty in enhanced resolution scatterometer and radiometer data products. The specific sensors discussed are the Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) and its Ultrahigh Resolution (UHR) winds, and the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) radiometer and its soil moisture measurements. ASCAT UHR winds have already been validated in previous studies [1], but inherent ambiguity in the wind retrieval model couples with higher noise levels to decrease overall accuracy. Neural networks are tested as an alternate modeling method to possibly improve the accuracy compared with the current method. It is found that the feed forward neural networks tested are able to accurately estimate winds in most calculations, but struggle with the same ambiguity that occurs in the current model. The neural networks handle this ambiguity inconsistently, which results in worse overall network performance compared to the current wind retrieval method. For the SMAP soil moisture measurements, the radiometer form of the Scatterometer Image Reconstruction algorithm is validated as a method to enhance resolution. While the increased noise at higher resolution does worsen overall accuracy, the performance remains within about 0.04 cm^3 cm^−3 RMSE of a validated soil moisture product, suggesting that fine scale features revealed as resolution is enhanced are accurate. Corrections to the soil moisture extraction model used in these tests could further improve these results. Neural networks are then applied and compared with the theory-based approach to extract soil moisture from the brightness temperature measurements, and are found to give slightly more accurate results than the theoretical model, though with somewhat higher error variance.

Bakgrund: Andelen kejsarsnitt ses öka i världen och därav finns ett ökat behov att hälso-och sjukvårdspersonalen erbjuder kvinnorna uppdaterad och individanpassad information om ingreppet. Syftet: Syftet med litteraturstudien var att beskriva kvinnors upplevelse av information inför planerat kejsarsnitt. Metod: Studien genomfördes som en allmän litteraturstudie och resultatet baserades på nio vetenskapliga artiklar som gjordes genom sökning i tre olika databaser. Artikel granskningen gjordes och bearbetades genom Carlsson & Eiman (2003) kvalitetsgranskningsmall. Resultat: Resultatet baserades på nio vetenskapliga artiklar som valdes ut och tre resultatkategorier framkom; att fatta ett informerat beslut, att förbereda sig och att hantera sin situation. Konklusion: Information har betydelse för kvinnans beslut av förlossningssätt, hennes möjlighet till förberedelse samt för att kunna hantera ett planerat kejsarsnitt. Det finns brister i den information som ges inför ett planerat kejsarsnitt. Kvinnorna önskar evidensbaserad information och stöd ifrån vårdgivaren där de får en välgrundad och korrekt information. / Background: The proportion of caesarean sections is seen to be increasing worldwide and therefore there is an increased need for healthcare professionals to offer women updated and personalized information about the procedure. Aim: The purpose of the literature study was to describe women's experience of information ahead of planned caesarean section. Method: The study was conducted as a general literature study and the results were based on scientific articles made by searching three different databases. The article review was done and processed through the Carlsson & Eiman (2003) quality review template. Results: Based on nine scientific papers selected, which were selected, and three categories of results emerged: To take an informed decision, to prepare and to manage their situation. Conclusion: Information is important for the woman's decision of childbirth, her ability to prepare and to be able to handle a planned caesarean section. There are shortcomings in the information given for a planned caesarean section. Women want evidence-based information and support from the healthcare provider where they receive informed and accurate information.

Bakgrund: Kejsarsnitt är ett ingrepp som blir allt vanligare världen över vilket resulterar till att fler kvinnor drabbas av komplikationer. I takt med att kejsarsnitt blivit säkrare har vårdtiden för kvinnorna blivit kortare, vilket gör att det uppstår en osäkerhet och rädsla kring komplikationer efter utskrivning för dessa kvinnor. Syfte: Syftet var att belysa kvinnors upplevelse kring komplikationer vid panerat kejsarsnitt efter utskrivning. Metod: Studien är en litteraturstudie med induktiv ansats där sju kvalitativa resultatartiklar ligger till grund för resultatet. Resultat: Utefter syftet identifierades fyra teman: att leva med långvarig smärta orsakad av genomgånget planerat kejsarsnitt, upplevelse av information, upplevelse av postnatal infektion samt skam och ångest kring planerat kejsarsnitt. Kvinnor upplever sin egen kunskap otillräcklig för att identifiera komplikationer samt vart kvinnan skall vända sig när komplikationer uppstår. Informationen som kvinnan får postoperativt kring infektion och smärtans utveckling vid planerat kejsarsnitt efter utskrivning, ansåg kvinnan bristfällig med avsaknad av personcentrerat förhållningssätt. Kvinnor upplever även en stigmatisering kring planerat kejsarsnitt från hälso- och sjukvårdspersonal samt samhället. Konklusion: Hälso- och sjukvården behöver få en större förståelse för kvinnans upplevelse kring komplikationer vid planerat kejsarsnitt efter utskrivning samt förbättra vården med ett personcentrerat förhållningssätt i form av stöd och information. / Background: Cesarean section is a procedure that is becoming more common around the world, which means that more women are suffering from complications. As the operation has become safer, the care time for the women has become shorter, which indicates that there is an uncertainty about complications after discharge. Aim: The aim was to illustrate women's experience of complications during elective cesarean section after discharge. Method: The study is a literature study with an inductive approach where seven qualitative articles formed the result. Result: According to the purpose, four themes were identified: living with long-term pain caused by elective cesarean section, experience of information, experience of postnatal infection and shame and anxiety around a planned cesarean section. Women experience insufficient knowledge to identify complications and where the woman should turn once it occurs. Postoperative information is not designed to be easily absorbed, as well as a stigma surrounding the woman's elective cesarean section in meetings with health and medical profession and society. Conclusion: The health care needs to gain a greater understanding of the woman's experience of complications after elective caesarean section at discharge and improve care with a person-centered approach in the form of support and information.

No description available.

En el presente artículo se investiga la implementación de las Redes Neuronales Artificiales como un tipo de Inteligencia Artificial con la finalidad de reducir los costos de concreto armado. Por esto, se propuso el uso de este tipo de algoritmo con el objetivo de optimizar las secciones de los muros de corte en edificaciones de 6 pisos sin irregularidades. Se configuraron 10 redes neuronales distintas con el fin de elegir la que se adapte mejor a los datos empleados para el entrenamiento. En cada algoritmo se establecieron como variables de entrada el ancho y largo de la edificación; y la distancia entre luz máxima del eje X e Y. Sin embargo, el número de capas ocultas y el de neuronas en cada una de ellas fue distinto. En la etapa de entrenamiento se emplearon 30 casos con dimensiones optimizadas, con esto se obtuvo que la red neuronal predice la longitud total de la placa y su espesor con un error del 10%. / This article investigates the use of Artificial Neural Networks as a type of Artificial Intelligence in order to reduce the costs of reinforced concrete. For this reason, the use of this type of algorithm was proposed with the objective of optimizing the sections of the shear walls in 6-story buildings without irregularities. Ten different neural networks were configured in order to choose the one that best suits the data used for training. In each algorithm, the width and length of the building; and the distance between maximum span of the X and Y axis were established as input variables. However, the number of hidden layers and the number of neurons in each of them was different. In the training stage, 30 cases with optimized dimensions were used, with this it was obtained that the neuronal network predicts the total length of the shear wall and its thickness with an error of 10%. / Trabajo de investigación

Hintergrund: Die Bedeutung der intra- und postpartalen Betreuungserfahrung für die psychische und physische Gesundheit von Mutter und Kind ist weitgehend anerkannt. Aktuelle Daten aus größeren Untersuchungen im deutschen klinischen Kontext liegen nicht vor. Die Evidenzen zur Betreuungszufriedenheit in Abhängigkeit vom Geburtsmodus sind uneinheitlich, der Einfluss einzelner Betreuungsdimensionen auf die Gesamtzufriedenheit ist speziell im Bereich der postpartalen Versorgung wenig untersucht. Ziel: Ermittlung der Dimensionen der intra- und postpartalen Betreuungserfahrungen in deutschen Kliniken, Analyse des Einflusses des Geburtsmodus auf diese Dimensionen sowie Prüfung des Einflusses der Dimensionen auf die Betreuungszufriedenheit insgesamt. Methode: Analyse der Daten aus 235 postalischen Befragungen in 129 geburtshilflichen Abteilungen, durchgeführt vom Picker Institut Deutschland gGmbH zwischen 2002 und 2009. Teilnehmerinnen: 16.315 Wöchnerinnen, die ihr Kind nach der vollendeten 37. Schwangerschaftswoche in einem deutschen Krankenhaus zur Welt gebracht haben. Ergebnisse: Ermittelt wurden 9 Dimensionen, die die intra- und postpartale Betreuung, die postpartale Schmerzlinderung sowie Hotelaspekte der Versorgung im Krankenhaus abbilden. Generell zeigte sich eine hohe Zufriedenheit, jedoch wird die postpartale Betreuung kritischer beurteilt als die intrapartale Betreuung. Es zeigte sich eine unterschiedliche Betreuungszufriedenheit bei Frauen mit geplanter und ungeplanter Sectio, mit einer Tendenz zu höherer Unzufriedenheit bei letzteren. Im Vergleich zu Frauen mit vaginaler Geburt sind Frauen mit geplantem Kaiserschnitt mit der ärztlichen Betreuung zufriedener (OR 0,7, 99% KI 0,6 - 0,9), Frauen mit ungeplantem Kaiserschnitt mit der Hebammenbetreuung unzufriedener (OR 1,5, 99% KI 1,3 - 1,9) und Frauen sowohl mit geplanter als auch ungeplanter Sectio mit der postpartalen Schmerzlinderung unzufriedener (OR 1,8, 99% KI 1,5 - 2,1 bzw. OR 1,8, 99% KI 1,6 - 2,0). Die Dimension Betreuung auf der Wochenbettstation weist den mit Abstand stärksten Einfluss auf die Zufriedenheit mit der klinischen Betreuung insgesamt auf. Darüber hinaus sind es vor allem die Dimensionen mit Fokus auf der Interaktion mit den betreuenden Fachkräften, die maßgeblich die Gesamtzufriedenheit beeinflussen. Der subjektive Gesundheitszustand, die Zuversicht, mit dem Kind zuhause zurecht zu kommen, und die Verweildauer erwiesen sich als weitere wichtige Prädiktoren der Zufriedenheit mit den Betreuungsdimensionen und der Gesamtzufriedenheit. Schlussfolgerung: Die maßgebliche Bedeutung der interpersonellen Betreuungsaspekte sowie die kritischere Beurteilung der postpartalen Betreuung im Vergleich zur intrapartalen bestätigen sich auch für den deutschen klinischen Kontext. Der Geburtsmodus scheint insbesondere für die Zufriedenheit mit der intrapartalen Betreuung sowie der postpartalen Schmerzlinderung eine Rolle zu spielen. Die größere Unzufriedenheit mit der postpartalen Schmerzlinderung bei Kaiserschnittgeburt deutet auf die Notwendigkeit eines effektiveren Schmerzmanagements hin. Vor dem Hintergrund der negativen Auswirkungen starker Schmerzen auf den Aufbau der Mutter-Kind-Beziehung sollte die Entscheidung zum geplanten Kaiserschnitt ebenso wie der Einsatz von Interventionen, die einen ungeplanten Kaiserschnitt begünstigen, sehr sorgfältig abgewogen werden. Den konstituierenden Dimensionen und Einflussfaktoren der postpartalen Betreuungszufriedenheit sollte mehr Aufmerksamkeit gewidmet werden, insbesondere mit Blick auf effektive Betreuungskonzepte und eine systematische Verzahnung mit der ambulanten Betreuung.

OBJECTIVES: The effect of body mass index (BMI) was assessed on unplanned cesarean section (CS) rate and its indications among healthy, nulliparous women without other risk factors for CS. METHOD: A cross sectional study was performed on 1649 healthy, nulliparous women at term who were admitted in spontaneous labor and delivered at Boston Medical Center between Jan 1st 2008 and Dec 31st 2012. The demographics and outcomes were compared by using a logistic regression analyses. RESULT: There were no statistically significant differences in unplanned CS rates between the three BMI groups (19% in normal weight, 24% in overweight, and 21% in obese women, p=0.1). Compared with normal weight women the crude odds ratio for overweight women was 1.34 (95%CI 1.03-1.76) and for obese women 1.04 (95%CI 0.84-1.54). A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for maternal age, birth weight, race and augmentation of labor. The adjusted ORs were 1.073 (95%CI 0.781-1.473) for obese and 1.291 (95%CI 0.978-1.705) for overweight women. Obese women had a higher rate of CS for non-reassuring fetal status (56%, p= 0.01) compared to overweight (46.5%) and normal weight women (37%). CONCLUSION: high maternal BMI per se does not appear to be an independent risk factor for unplanned CS in healthy nulliparous women presenting at term with a singleton pregnancy in spontaneous labor.

In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Arts in Clinical Psychology, 2006. / The purpose of this research was to describe the experience of working with patients with HIV/AIDS, in particular performing caesarean sections, from a medical practitioner's perspective. A phenomenological study method was employed in which each participant used in the research was interviewed in a single session. The original sample consisted of 9 participants. They were selected by means of criterion sampling from the gynaecology and obstetrics department of different public hospitals in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town. Six protocols were selected for phenomenological explication based on the interviews with the 9 original participants. The sample consisted of 3 females and 3 males, from different cultural backgrounds, who regularly perform surgical gynaecological procedures on patients with HIV/AIDS. The results were presented in the form of an integrative text, which accounted for all of the individual variations of the experience of working with patients with HIV/AIDS. Out of this text the researcher explicated natural meaning units, specific to each participant, which were used in formulating a specific description of experiencing the performance of a caesarean section on a patient with HIV/AIDS. This study concluded with a discussion of the results, as well as a formulation of a general description of experiencing the performance of caesarean sections on patients with HIV/AIDS for all 6 participants. Overall, this research explicated unique descriptions of individual experiences, and contributes to a general understanding of the experience of performing a caesarean section on a patient with HIV/AIDS. Operational definitions • Phenomenology - A department of the inductive sciences concerned with the facts that form the basis of its system. • Caesarean section - A mode of childbirth in which a surgical incision is made through a pregnant woman's abdomen and uterus to deliver a baby. • Human Immunodeficiency Vinis- A retrovirus that attacks and severely damages the body's immune system and for which there is presently no cure. • Life-wortd- The space occupied by any one person in the external, physical world, as well as the internal lived-in world, consisting of emotions and cognitions.

This work provides information about interactions that produce emitted electrons from polycrystalline Au. Emission energy- angle- dependent electron spectra from a polycrystalline Au surface have been measured at several incident electron beam energies. The range of incident energies (~100 eV to 2500 eV) extends from below the first crossover energy, through Emaxo, to above the second crossover energy. The conventional distinction between secondary electrons (SE) (50 eV) is found to be crude for the investigation of electron yields using these energy- angle- resolved measurements. A more realistic boundary occurs at the local minima of the emission spectra; this feature is studied as a function of incident energy and emission angle. In addition, deviations observed in the angular resolved emission spectra from isotropic behavior suggests that residual signatures exist in the emission spectra resulting from the anisotropic SE production mechanisms. Based on the disparity between our observations and recent modeling of the emission spectra, the most recent theory and simulation studies may overestimate the occurrence of randomizing collisions of scattered secondary electrons in the model of the transport mechanism. Finally, description of extensive modification to instrumental and analysis methods are described, and their effectiveness is evaluated.