Search

Available online 30 January 2023, Perceptual stability is obviously advantageous, but being able to adjust to the prevailing environment is also adaptive. Previous research has identified ways in which the categorization of speech sounds shifts as a function of recently heard speech. Dozens of studies have examined “lexically driven recalibration”, an adjustment to categorization after listeners hear a number of words with a particular speech sound designed to be perceptually ambiguous. Despite the large number of these studies, little is known about how long the adjustment endures. Using two different stimulus sets, we assess the recovery time after lexically driven recalibration. In addition, we examine whether the size of the recalibration effect diminishes during the identification test used to measure it, and whether the recalibration effect is stronger for one side of a tested contrast or the other. The effect did in fact decline during its measurement, and one side of the contrast (/s/) produced stronger shifts than others (/ʃ/ or /h/) under the conditions typically examined in recalibration studies. Recalibration was quite robust after 24 hours for both stimulus sets, and still measurable after one week for one of them. This time course is strikingly different than the recovery times reported in previous studies for two other adjustment processes – selective adaptation and audiovisually driven recalibration. The vastly different time courses pose a major challenge for models that ascribe these phenomena to the same adjustment function. Thus, such models will need to be substantially modified, or alternative models will need to be developed.

The learning material introduces the fundamentals of supply chain resilience, as a result of the Project funded by the European Commission under the Erasmus+ Programme entitled: CONTINUITY-"Business Continuity Managers Training Platform" with reference No. 2021-1-IT01-KA220-VET-000033287

The learning material introduces the fundamentals of supply chain resilience, as a result of the Project funded by the European Commission under the Erasmus+ Programme entitled: CONTINUITY-"Business Continuity Managers Training Platform" with reference No. 2021-1-IT01-KA220-VET-000033287

In the upcoming years more train passengers are expected and with more trains on the tracks railway systems require greater resilience. Switches can play a major role during disruptions as they enable trains to be rerouted onto other tracks, allowing them to bypass the disruption but switches also facilitate overtaking, meet-pass operations at stations as well as diverging and merging at junctions. Since switches consist of numerous parts and the fact these are moving infrastructure elements they are subject to failure itself. Maintenance is expensive and ProRail, the Dutch infrastructure manager, only has a limited budget from the government and if certain switches are only used during disruptions it sounds logical to remove those switches. With on average 50 disruptions per day in the Netherlands with both small and huge impact, it is important to get insights into the relationship between resilience and the location of the switches. In this thesis a model is constructed that evaluates the impact of a set of disruption scenarios on different switch configurations. Four key performance indicators are found in literature that can measure resilience quantitatively: costs (number of switches), rate of cancelled services, punctuality and time to recover. In interviews with rail experts, weightings for the four KPIs are derived which are used to calculate a score for all disruption scenarios and infrastructure layouts. A trade-off between costs and resilience is made in order to find the optimal switch configuration for a double track and four track layout which provides the highest capacity during disruptions. The set of disruptions including cause, location and duration come from an extensive analysis of disruption events of the past 6.5 years in the Netherlands. Currently, NS is cancelling many trains since NS is examined on punctuality and not on the number of trains. This research aims to cancel as few trains as possible which is also examined i, Civil Engineering | Transport and Planning

Climate change is affecting herbivore distributions and abundance, resulting in intensified grazing pressure on foundation species such as seagrasses. This, coupled with other, rapid changes in estuarine ecosystems, may threaten the resilience of seagrass. While the overall resilience of seagrasses is generally well-studied, the timeframes of recovery have received comparatively little attention, particularly in temperate estuaries. This study investigated the recovery time of two colonising seagrasses (Halophila ovalis and Ruppia megacarpa) following various intensities of simulated grazing in two southwestern Australian estuaries. Simulated grazing treatments (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% removal from 1 m2 plots) were applied in field experiments replicated at four locations in each estuary during summer. Seagrass cover was used as the main measure of recovery, and was monitored over 3 months following the simulated grazing while excluding swans. The results showed that Halophila ovalis recovered within 4–6 weeks from lower grazing intensities (25% and 50%), and within 7–19 weeks from higher grazing intensities (75% and 100%). Furthermore, the variability in recovery time among experimental locations increased with grazing intensity. Ruppia megacarpa recovered from 100% grazing within 2-9 weeks. The recovery time for R. megacarpa was faster than for other colonising species, but this cannot be assumed to always be the case, as recovery did not occur within the timeframe of the experiment in one location. The overall conclusion is that colonising seagrasses, represented by H. ovalis and R. megacarpa, can recover rapidly following simulated grazing and through multiple mechanisms. Vegetative growth, and particularly regrowth from the surrounding meadow, appears instrumental in recovery for both species at the scale of disturbance simulated. A novel finding is that recovery occurred via recruitment from fragments in both species. No recovery was observed by recruitment fr

The database compiles data published on seagrass recovery time, biomass characteristics, and recovery mechanisms following simulated grazing disturbance experiment in the Swan Canning Estuary, Western Australia. Observations of swans in the vicinity is also included.

Tropical cyclones (TCs) can have profound effects on the dynamics of forest vegetation that need to be better understood. Here, we analysed changes in forest vegetation induced by TCs using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). We used an accurate historical database of TC tracks and intensities, together with the Willoughby cyclone model to reconstruct the 2D surface wind speed structure of TCs and analyse how TCs affect forest vegetation. We used segmented linear models to identify significant breakpoints in the relationship between the reconstructed maximum sustained wind speed (Wmax) and the observed changes in NDVI. We tested the hypothesis that the rate of change in damage caused by TCs to forest and recovery time would increase according to Wmax thresholds as defined in the widely used Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS). We showed that the most significant breakpoint was located at 50 m/s. This breakpoint corresponds to the transition between categories 2 and 3 TCs in the SSHWS. Below this breakpoint, damages caused to forest vegetation and the time needed to recover from these damages were negligable. We found a second breakpoint, with a sharp increase in damages for winds >75 m/s. This suggested that extremely intense tropical cyclones, which might be more frequent in the future, can cause extreme damages to forest vegetation. Nevertheless, we found high variation in the observed damages and time needed to recover for a given Wmax. Further studies are needed to integrate other factors that might affect the exposure and resistance to TCs as well as forests’ capacity to recover from these disturbances.

Tropical cyclones (TCs) can have profound effects on the dynamics of forest vegetation that need to be better understood. Here, we analysed changes in forest vegetation induced by TCs using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). We used an accurate historical database of TC tracks and intensities, together with the Willoughby cyclone model to reconstruct the 2D surface wind speed structure of TCs and analyse how TCs affect forest vegetation. We used segmented linear models to identify significant breakpoints in the relationship between the reconstructed maximum sustained wind speed (Wmax) and the observed changes in NDVI. We tested the hypothesis that the rate of change in damage caused by TCs to forest and recovery time would increase according to Wmax thresholds as defined in the widely used Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS). We showed that the most significant breakpoint was located at 50 m/s. This breakpoint corresponds to the transition between categories 2 and 3 TCs in the SSHWS. Below this breakpoint, damages caused to forest vegetation and the time needed to recover from these damages were negligable. We found a second breakpoint, with a sharp increase in damages for winds >75 m/s. This suggested that extremely intense tropical cyclones, which might be more frequent in the future, can cause extreme damages to forest vegetation. Nevertheless, we found high variation in the observed damages and time needed to recover for a given Wmax. Further studies are needed to integrate other factors that might affect the exposure and resistance to TCs as well as forests’ capacity to recover from these disturbances.

Herbivore distributions and abundance are shifting because of climate change, leading to intensified grazing pressure on foundation species such as seagrasses. This, combined with rapidly increasing magnitudes of change in estuarine ecosystems, may affect seagrass resilience. While the overall resilience of seagrasses is generally well-studied, the timeframes of recovery has received comparatively little attention, particularly in temperate estuaries. We investigated how the recovery time (RT) of seagrass is affected by simulated grazing in a southwestern Australian estuary. Whilst excluding swans, we simulated different grazing intensities (25, 50, 75, and 100 % removal from 1 m2 plots) at four locations in the Swan-Canning Estuary, Western Australia during summer and tracked the recovery of seagrass over 3 months, using seagrass cover as the main measure of recovery. We found that seagrass recovered within 4–6 weeks from the lower grazing intensities (25 and 50 %) and 7–19 weeks from the higher grazing intensities (75 and 100 %) across the estuary. Increased grazing intensity led to not only longer recovery times (RTs), but also greater variability in the RT among experimental locations. The RT from the higher grazing intensities at one location in particular was more than double other locations. Seagrass recovery was through vegetative mechanisms and not through sexual reproduction. There was a significant grazing treatment effect on seagrass meadow characteristics, particularly belowground biomass which had not recovered 3 months following grazing. As the pressure of climate change on estuarine environments increases, these quantified RTs for seagrass provide a baseline for understanding grazing pressure as a singular disturbance. Future work can now examine how grazing and other potentially interacting pressures in our changing climate could impact seagrass recovery even further.

The database compiles data published on seagrass recovery time, biomass characteristics, and recovery mechanisms following simulated grazing disturbance experiment in the Swan Canning Estuary, Western Australia. Observations of swans in the vicinity is also included.

Published 2021 Apr, Over the course of a lifetime, adults develop perceptual categories for the vowels and consonants in their native language, based on the distribution of those sounds in their environment. However, in any given listening situation, the short-term distribution of sounds can cause changes in this long-term categorization. For example, if the same sound (the “adaptor”) is heard many times in a short period of time, listeners adapt and become less prone to hearing that sound. Although hundreds of speech selective adaptation experiments have been published, there is almost no information about how long this adaptation lasts. Using stimuli chosen to produce very large initial adaptation, we test adaptation effects with essentially no delay, and with delays of 25 min, 90 min, and 5.5 hr; these tests probe the duration of adaptation both in the (single) ear to which the adaptor was presented, and in the opposite ear. Reliable adaptation remains 5.5 hr after exposure in the same-ear condition, whereas it is undetectable at 90 min in the opposite ear. Surprisingly, the amount of residual adaptation is largely unaffected by whether the listener is exposed to speech between adaptation and test, unless the speech shares critical acoustic properties with the adapting sounds. Analyses of the shifts on three time scales (seconds, minutes, and hours) provide information about the multiple levels of analysis that the speech signal undergoes.

Thermal injury is a serious medical, social and economic problem. The development of the heavy and chemical industries, as well as the widespread use of electricity in everyday life and industry, will contribute to a significant increase in burn injuries. Purpose. In case of burn injuries, the burn consists in the study of disorders in the hemostasis system in the shock phase. The object of the study was patients admitted to the department of combustiology of the Samarkand branch of the Republican Scientific Center for Emergency Medical Aid in the period from 2016 to 2019. In the phase of burn shock with deep burns from 10 to 35% of the body surface 95 (out of 112 main groups). The age of the patients ranged from 18 to 75 years, the average age was 54.3 ± 0.7. There were 142 (65.43%) men and 75 (34.56%) women. There was a poorly developed increase in the coagulation system (tolerance to heparin 253.4 ± 21.3 seconds, thrombotest - 4.06 ± 0.2 degrees), PTI decreased to 87.6 ± 3.1%

Thermal injury is a serious medical, social and economic problem. The development of the heavy and chemical industries, as well as the widespread use of electricity in everyday life and industry, will contribute to a significant increase in burn injuries. Purpose. In case of burn injuries, the burn consists in the study of disorders in the hemostasis system in the shock phase. The object of the study was patients admitted to the department of combustiology of the Samarkand branch of the Republican Scientific Center for Emergency Medical Aid in the period from 2016 to 2019. In the phase of burn shock with deep burns from 10 to 35% of the body surface 95 (out of 112 main groups). The age of the patients ranged from 18 to 75 years, the average age was 54.3 ± 0.7. There were 142 (65.43%) men and 75 (34.56%) women. There was a poorly developed increase in the coagulation system (tolerance to heparin 253.4 ± 21.3 seconds, thrombotest - 4.06 ± 0.2 degrees), PTI decreased to 87.6 ± 3.1%

Published 2021 Apr, Over the course of a lifetime, adults develop perceptual categories for the vowels and consonants in their native language, based on the distribution of those sounds in their environment. However, in any given listening situation, the short-term distribution of sounds can cause changes in this long-term categorization. For example, if the same sound (the “adaptor”) is heard many times in a short period of time, listeners adapt and become less prone to hearing that sound. Although hundreds of speech selective adaptation experiments have been published, there is almost no information about how long this adaptation lasts. Using stimuli chosen to produce very large initial adaptation, we test adaptation effects with essentially no delay, and with delays of 25 min, 90 min, and 5.5 hr; these tests probe the duration of adaptation both in the (single) ear to which the adaptor was presented, and in the opposite ear. Reliable adaptation remains 5.5 hr after exposure in the same-ear condition, whereas it is undetectable at 90 min in the opposite ear. Surprisingly, the amount of residual adaptation is largely unaffected by whether the listener is exposed to speech between adaptation and test, unless the speech shares critical acoustic properties with the adapting sounds. Analyses of the shifts on three time scales (seconds, minutes, and hours) provide information about the multiple levels of analysis that the speech signal undergoes.

Thermal injury is a serious medical, social and economic problem. The development of the heavy and chemical industries, as well as the widespread use of electricity in everyday life and industry, will contribute to a significant increase in burn injuries. Purpose. In case of burn injuries, the burn consists in the study of disorders in the hemostasis system in the shock phase. The object of the study was patients admitted to the department of combustiology of the Samarkand branch of the Republican Scientific Center for Emergency Medical Aid in the period from 2016 to 2019. In the phase of burn shock with deep burns from 10 to 35% of the body surface 95 (out of 112 main groups). The age of the patients ranged from 18 to 75 years, the average age was 54.3 ± 0.7. There were 142 (65.43%) men and 75 (34.56%) women. There was a poorly developed increase in the coagulation system (tolerance to heparin 253.4 ± 21.3 seconds, thrombotest - 4.06 ± 0.2 degrees), PTI decreased to 87.6 ± 3.1%

Purpose The present study aimed to estimate how orientation position, recovery time, and contact lens decentration, associated with visual performance, may vary on several designs of the most recent toric silicone-hydrogel toric contact lenses in two-time different moments. Methods To evaluate the toric silicone-hydrogel toric contact lens position and stability, it was conducted with a prospective, observational, randomized, and single-center case series including 95 astigmatic eyes wearing four toric silicone-hydrogel toric contact lenses for two weeks. Orientation and decentration were analyzed with ImageJ software from video-frames extracted with a Python application. Recovery time was evaluated after 45 degrees of inferior-temporal misorientation.

The present study aimed to estimate how orientation position, recovery time, and contact lens decentration, associated with visual performance, may vary on several designs of the most recent toric silicone-hydrogel toric contact lenses in two-time different moments.

Published 2021 Apr, Over the course of a lifetime, adults develop perceptual categories for the vowels and consonants in their native language, based on the distribution of those sounds in their environment. However, in any given listening situation, the short-term distribution of sounds can cause changes in this long-term categorization. For example, if the same sound (the “adaptor”) is heard many times in a short period of time, listeners adapt and become less prone to hearing that sound. Although hundreds of speech selective adaptation experiments have been published, there is almost no information about how long this adaptation lasts. Using stimuli chosen to produce very large initial adaptation, we test adaptation effects with essentially no delay, and with delays of 25 min, 90 min, and 5.5 hr; these tests probe the duration of adaptation both in the (single) ear to which the adaptor was presented, and in the opposite ear. Reliable adaptation remains 5.5 hr after exposure in the same-ear condition, whereas it is undetectable at 90 min in the opposite ear. Surprisingly, the amount of residual adaptation is largely unaffected by whether the listener is exposed to speech between adaptation and test, unless the speech shares critical acoustic properties with the adapting sounds. Analyses of the shifts on three time scales (seconds, minutes, and hours) provide information about the multiple levels of analysis that the speech signal undergoes.

Post-dialysis fatigue and survival in patients on chronic hemodyalisi

We report on a fractal superconducting nanowire avalanche photodetector simultaneously with 60% system efficiency, 1.05 polarization sensitivity, 4-ns recovery time, and 45-ps timing jitter. The efficiency is the highest among polycrystalline SNSPDs with polarization-insensitive designs., QC 20210316

Background: Although frequent and debilitating, little is known about the characteristics of post-dialysis fatigue (PDF). Objective: To characterise the intensity, duration and frequency of PDF and the associated variables in patients on chronic haemodialyses. Design: Prospective, observational and multicenter study. Patients: We studied 271 patients. Measurements: Patients were considered to be suffering from PDF if they spontaneously offered this complaint when asked the open-ended question: “Do you feel fatigued after dialysis? Then, each patient was invited to rate the intensity, duration and frequency of PDF from 1 to 5. Results: One hundred sixty-four patients (60.5%) had PDF. The median [95% confidence interval (CI)] scores of PDF intensity, duration and frequency were 3 (3–4), 3 (3–4) and 4 (4-4), respectively. The median (95% CI) of the sum of the scores (Sum Score) of PDF intensity, duration and frequency was 11 (10–12). Seventy four patients had a Sum Score ≥ 12. Using multiple regression analysis, PDF intensity was associated with dialytic age and ultrafiltration rate (UFR), PDF duration with dialytic age, while PDF fatigue frequency was associated with height. The Sum Score was associated with dialytic age and recovery time and negatively associated with daily activity, height and UFR (ml/kg/h). Conclusion: The intensity, duration and frequency of PDF are high in a large percentage of patients, suggesting that PDF is an intense event in terms of quantity and quality. Understanding the relationship between the variables associated with PDF and its intensity, duration and frequency may help better understand the underlying mechanisms of this burdensome condition.

Motivated by the promise of two-dimensional nanostructures in the field of gas sensing, we have employed van der Waals corrected density functional theory calculations to study the structural, electronic and gas sensing propensities of the recently designed Si2BN monolayer. Our rigorous simulations reveal that the representative members of nitrogen-containing gases (NCGs) such as NO, NO2 and NH3 binds extremely strongly on pristine Si2BN monolayer. However, a strong dissociative adsorption in case of NO and NO2 would poison the Si2BN and ultimately reversibility of the monolayer would be compromised. Exploring the sensing mechanism in more realistic pre-oxidized conditions, the binding characteristics of O2@Si2BN changed dramatically, resulting into much lower adsorption in associative manner for all NO, NO2 and NH3. A visible change in work function indicates the variation in conductivity of O2@Si2BN upon the exposure of incident gases. Sustainable values of binding energies would also ensure a quick recovery time that makes O2@Si2BN an efficient nano sensor for pollutants like NCGs.

Motivated by the promise of two-dimensional nanostructures in the field of gas sensing, we have employed van der Waals corrected density functional theory calculations to study the structural, electronic and gas sensing propensities of the recently designed Si2BN monolayer. Our rigorous simulations reveal that the representative members of nitrogen-containing gases (NCGs) such as NO, NO2 and NH3 binds extremely strongly on pristine Si2BN monolayer. However, a strong dissociative adsorption in case of NO and NO2 would poison the Si2BN and ultimately reversibility of the monolayer would be compromised. Exploring the sensing mechanism in more realistic pre-oxidized conditions, the binding characteristics of O-2@Si2BN changed dramatically, resulting into much lower adsorption in associative manner for all NO, NO2 and NH3. A visible change in work function indicates the variation in conductivity of O-2@Si2BN upon the exposure of incident gases. Sustainable values of binding energies would also ensure a quick recovery time that makes O-2@Si2BN an efficient nano sensor for pollutants like NCGs., QC 20190222

BACKGROUND: Puumala virus infection or nephropathia epidemica (NE) is common in northern Sweden. NE causes haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. Most patients make a full recovery, but a convalescent phase with fatigue has been reported. Although post-infectious fatigue has been demonstrated for other viral infections, it is not well studied in relation to NE. This study assessed recovery time and levels of fatigue in former NE patients, as compared to the general population. METHODS: NE patients diagnosed in northern Sweden between 2007 and 2011, together with a comparison sample from the general population, answered a questionnaire on demographic and health-related factors, including the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and characteristics of NE infection. Self-reported recovery time was assessed, and fatigue levels were compared across the two groups by multiple linear regression, stratified by gender. RESULTS: In total, 1132 NE patients and 915 comparison group subjects participated. Time to complete recovery was reported to exceed 3 months for 47% and 6 months for 32% of the NE patients. Recovery time differed by gender and age. NE patients had significantly higher FSS scores than the comparison group. Differences were greater among women than men, and adjustments for current illness, body mass index, smoking and current residence only slightly modified the estimates. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with previous NE infection show higher fatigue scores than non-infected individuals, even 5 years following the infection. Full recovery takes half a year or longer for a substantial proportion of former NE patients.

BACKGROUND: Puumala virus infection or nephropathia epidemica (NE) is common in northern Sweden. NE causes haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. Most patients make a full recovery, but a convalescent phase with fatigue has been reported. Although post-infectious fatigue has been demonstrated for other viral infections, it is not well studied in relation to NE. This study assessed recovery time and levels of fatigue in former NE patients, as compared to the general population. METHODS: NE patients diagnosed in northern Sweden between 2007 and 2011, together with a comparison sample from the general population, answered a questionnaire on demographic and health-related factors, including the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and characteristics of NE infection. Self-reported recovery time was assessed, and fatigue levels were compared across the two groups by multiple linear regression, stratified by gender. RESULTS: In total, 1132 NE patients and 915 comparison group subjects participated. Time to complete recovery was reported to exceed 3 months for 47% and 6 months for 32% of the NE patients. Recovery time differed by gender and age. NE patients had significantly higher FSS scores than the comparison group. Differences were greater among women than men, and adjustments for current illness, body mass index, smoking and current residence only slightly modified the estimates. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with previous NE infection show higher fatigue scores than non-infected individuals, even 5 years following the infection. Full recovery takes half a year or longer for a substantial proportion of former NE patients.

BACKGROUND: Puumala virus infection or nephropathia epidemica (NE) is common in northern Sweden. NE causes haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. Most patients make a full recovery, but a convalescent phase with fatigue has been reported. Although post-infectious fatigue has been demonstrated for other viral infections, it is not well studied in relation to NE. This study assessed recovery time and levels of fatigue in former NE patients, as compared to the general population. METHODS: NE patients diagnosed in northern Sweden between 2007 and 2011, together with a comparison sample from the general population, answered a questionnaire on demographic and health-related factors, including the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and characteristics of NE infection. Self-reported recovery time was assessed, and fatigue levels were compared across the two groups by multiple linear regression, stratified by gender. RESULTS: In total, 1132 NE patients and 915 comparison group subjects participated. Time to complete recovery was reported to exceed 3 months for 47% and 6 months for 32% of the NE patients. Recovery time differed by gender and age. NE patients had significantly higher FSS scores than the comparison group. Differences were greater among women than men, and adjustments for current illness, body mass index, smoking and current residence only slightly modified the estimates. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with previous NE infection show higher fatigue scores than non-infected individuals, even 5 years following the infection. Full recovery takes half a year or longer for a substantial proportion of former NE patients.

BACKGROUND: Puumala virus infection or nephropathia epidemica (NE) is common in northern Sweden. NE causes haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. Most patients make a full recovery, but a convalescent phase with fatigue has been reported. Although post-infectious fatigue has been demonstrated for other viral infections, it is not well studied in relation to NE. This study assessed recovery time and levels of fatigue in former NE patients, as compared to the general population. METHODS: NE patients diagnosed in northern Sweden between 2007 and 2011, together with a comparison sample from the general population, answered a questionnaire on demographic and health-related factors, including the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and characteristics of NE infection. Self-reported recovery time was assessed, and fatigue levels were compared across the two groups by multiple linear regression, stratified by gender. RESULTS: In total, 1132 NE patients and 915 comparison group subjects participated. Time to complete recovery was reported to exceed 3 months for 47% and 6 months for 32% of the NE patients. Recovery time differed by gender and age. NE patients had significantly higher FSS scores than the comparison group. Differences were greater among women than men, and adjustments for current illness, body mass index, smoking and current residence only slightly modified the estimates. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with previous NE infection show higher fatigue scores than non-infected individuals, even 5 years following the infection. Full recovery takes half a year or longer for a substantial proportion of former NE patients.

BACKGROUND: Puumala virus infection or nephropathia epidemica (NE) is common in northern Sweden. NE causes haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. Most patients make a full recovery, but a convalescent phase with fatigue has been reported. Although post-infectious fatigue has been demonstrated for other viral infections, it is not well studied in relation to NE. This study assessed recovery time and levels of fatigue in former NE patients, as compared to the general population. METHODS: NE patients diagnosed in northern Sweden between 2007 and 2011, together with a comparison sample from the general population, answered a questionnaire on demographic and health-related factors, including the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and characteristics of NE infection. Self-reported recovery time was assessed, and fatigue levels were compared across the two groups by multiple linear regression, stratified by gender. RESULTS: In total, 1132 NE patients and 915 comparison group subjects participated. Time to complete recovery was reported to exceed 3 months for 47% and 6 months for 32% of the NE patients. Recovery time differed by gender and age. NE patients had significantly higher FSS scores than the comparison group. Differences were greater among women than men, and adjustments for current illness, body mass index, smoking and current residence only slightly modified the estimates. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with previous NE infection show higher fatigue scores than non-infected individuals, even 5 years following the infection. Full recovery takes half a year or longer for a substantial proportion of former NE patients.

BACKGROUND: Puumala virus infection or nephropathia epidemica (NE) is common in northern Sweden. NE causes haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. Most patients make a full recovery, but a convalescent phase with fatigue has been reported. Although post-infectious fatigue has been demonstrated for other viral infections, it is not well studied in relation to NE. This study assessed recovery time and levels of fatigue in former NE patients, as compared to the general population. METHODS: NE patients diagnosed in northern Sweden between 2007 and 2011, together with a comparison sample from the general population, answered a questionnaire on demographic and health-related factors, including the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and characteristics of NE infection. Self-reported recovery time was assessed, and fatigue levels were compared across the two groups by multiple linear regression, stratified by gender. RESULTS: In total, 1132 NE patients and 915 comparison group subjects participated. Time to complete recovery was reported to exceed 3 months for 47% and 6 months for 32% of the NE patients. Recovery time differed by gender and age. NE patients had significantly higher FSS scores than the comparison group. Differences were greater among women than men, and adjustments for current illness, body mass index, smoking and current residence only slightly modified the estimates. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with previous NE infection show higher fatigue scores than non-infected individuals, even 5 years following the infection. Full recovery takes half a year or longer for a substantial proportion of former NE patients.

Supply chain networks generally are composed of four main entity types: supplier, production centers, distribution centers and demand zones that consist of facilities whose activities involve the transformation of raw material into finished products that are later delivered from the suppliers to the end customers. Supply chain network design as the most important strategic decision in supply chain management plays an important role in the overall environmental and economic performance of the supply chain. The nature and complexity of today’s supply chains network make them vulnerable to various risks. One of the most important risks is disruption risk. Disruptions are costly and can be caused by internal or external sources to the supply chain, thus it is crucial that managers take appropriate measures of responses to reduce its negative effects. A recovery time of disrupted facilities and return it to the normal condition can be an important factor for members of the supply chain. In this paper, a bi-objective model is developed for reliable supply chain network design under facility disruption. To solve this model, we have applied two approaches, i.e., ε constraint method as an exact method and non- dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGAII) as a meta-heuristic method.

BACKGROUND: Puumala virus infection or nephropathia epidemica (NE) is common in northern Sweden. NE causes haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. Most patients make a full recovery, but a convalescent phase with fatigue has been reported. Although post-infectious fatigue has been demonstrated for other viral infections, it is not well studied in relation to NE. This study assessed recovery time and levels of fatigue in former NE patients, as compared to the general population. METHODS: NE patients diagnosed in northern Sweden between 2007 and 2011, together with a comparison sample from the general population, answered a questionnaire on demographic and health-related factors, including the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and characteristics of NE infection. Self-reported recovery time was assessed, and fatigue levels were compared across the two groups by multiple linear regression, stratified by gender. RESULTS: In total, 1132 NE patients and 915 comparison group subjects participated. Time to complete recovery was reported to exceed 3 months for 47% and 6 months for 32% of the NE patients. Recovery time differed by gender and age. NE patients had significantly higher FSS scores than the comparison group. Differences were greater among women than men, and adjustments for current illness, body mass index, smoking and current residence only slightly modified the estimates. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with previous NE infection show higher fatigue scores than non-infected individuals, even 5 years following the infection. Full recovery takes half a year or longer for a substantial proportion of former NE patients.

High-level service bus systems, even though in many different forms and local particularities, have been spread out around the globe over the last decades, driven by the administration and the transport authority, and in close cooperation with the operator agencies. Under the common denominator of a higher-level service, those bus systems succeeded quite a lot anywhere due to the best performance of their operational indicators, such as service regularity, commercial speed, and time-headway. Nevertheless, many actions should be undertaken and applied to be able to supply all those benefits. Consistent with the above, this thesis defines several procedures enabling the design of reliable scheduled timetables and operating control strategies aimed at achieving an optimal operation. Also, more complicated route layouts, as in the case of transit corridors served by two routes, have been studied; and a specific methodology to evaluate the operational performance of the transfer areas has also been developed, as true cornerstones of those transfer-based bus networks. The first theme of this thesis consists of setting up a methodology for drawing up efficient timetables, optimising recovery times at the bus terminals, fulfilling on-time departures, according to a predefined statistical percentage, and minimising resources in terms of vehicles and drivers, observing operating rules and constraints. In the example of route H12 from Barcelona’s New Bus Network, travelling times could be adjusted and an increase by 40% of recovery time (from 5’ to 7’) could be implemented to be able to secure on-time departures. After reviewing how service regularity is calculated, according to the leading worldwide agencies and transport authorities, a procedure to detect the bus bunching is determined as well as various strategies to control and mitigate its effect, making possible the adherence to the scheduled headway, and keeping the bus carrousel well-regulated. Up to 40% improvement ha, Els sistemes d’autobusos d’altes prestacions, si bé amb diverses modalitats i particularitats locals, s'han estès per tot el món en les darreres dècades, impulsats per l’administració i els consorcis de transports, i amb el recolzament de les grans empreses operadores. Sota el denominador comú d'un alt nivell de servei, aquests sistemes d'autobusos han tingut força èxit arreu degut a les millors prestacions dels seus indicadors operacionals com són la regularitat, la velocitat comercial i l’interval de pas dels seus vehicles. No obstant això, per poder donar un bon servei, s'han de desenvolupar i aplicar nombroses accions de millora. En línia amb tot l’anterior, aquesta tesi defineix un seguit de procediments per al disseny d’horaris fiables i d’estratègies de control operatiu que facin possible un adequat funcionament d’aquests tipus de serveis, també en esquemes de línies més complexos. A més, com que les àrees d'intercanvi esdevenen la pedra angular d'aquestes xarxes d'autobusos basades en les transferències, s'ha desenvolupat una metodologia especial per avaluar-ne el seu rendiment operatiu. El primer tema estableix una metodologia per elaborar horaris eficients, optimitzar els temps de recuperació d’incidències (TRI) als terminals de línia, complir amb les sortides puntuals d'acord amb un percentatge estadístic preestablert i minimitzar els recursos en termes de número de vehicles i conductors, observant totes les reglamentacions operatives i restriccions existents. En l’exemple de la línia H12 de Barcelona, s’ha ajustat els temps de viatge i això ha permès un increment del 40% del TRI (de 5’ a 7’) per poder donar un millor servei i assegurar les sortides dels terminals. Després de revisar la forma en què les principals agències de transport mundials i autoritats calculen la regularitat del serveis de bus, s’estableix un procediment per detectar el bus bunching (agrupació de busos), i diverses estratègies per controlar i mitigar el seu efecte, fent possible el, Los sistemas de autobuses de altas prestaciones, si bien con diversas modalidades y particularismos locales, se han extendido por todo el mundo en las últimas décadas, impulsados por la administración y los consorcios de transportes, y con la estrecha colaboración de las grandes empresas operadoras. Bajo el denominador común de un mayor nivel de servicio, estos sistemas de autobuses han tenido mucho éxito en todas partes debido a las prestaciones de sus indicadores operacionales como la regularidad, velocidad comercial e intervalo de paso. Sin embargo, para poder dar un buen servicio, deben desarrollarse y aplicarse numerosas acciones. En línea con lo anterior, se define es esta tesis una serie de procedimientos para el diseño de horarios eficientes y estrategias de control operativo que posibiliten el adecuado funcionamiento de estos servicios, que pueden incluir esquemas de líneas más complejos. Además, como las áreas de intercambio se han convertido en la piedra angular de estas redes de autobuses, basadas en las transferencias, se ha desarrollado también una metodología especial para evaluar su rendimiento operativo. El primer tema consiste en el establecimiento de un procedimiento para elaborar tablas de tiempos consistentes, optimizar los tiempos de recuperación de incidencias en los terminales de línea (TRI), cumplir puntualmente con las salidas según un porcentaje estadístico predefinido y minimizar los recursos en términos de vehículos y conductores, observando todas aquellas reglamentaciones operativas y restricciones existentes. En el ejemplo de la línea H12 de la Nueva Red de Bus de Barcelona, se ha llegado a un ajuste de los tiempos de viaje que han permitido un incremento de un 40% del TRI (de 5’ a 7’) para ajustar correctamente el servicio y asegurar las salidas de los terminales. Después de revisar cómo calculan las principales agencias mundiales y autoridades de transporte la regularidad del servicio de bus, se establece un procedimiento para detect, Postprint (published version)

The paper discusses the main indicators of the structural reliability of the electrical network. The relative failure rate and recovery time of each air line for the entire period of operation is calculated., В работе рассматриваются основные показатели структурной надежности электрической сети. Рассчитана относительная частота отказов и время восстановления каждой воздушной линии за весь период эксплуатации.

Earthquake resilience starts with a sudden drop of performance when an earthquake strikes followed by a relatively long recovery phase. The dynamics and volume of investment directly affect the rate and level of recovery. In this paper, the recovery process of the city of Kraljevo, Serbia following the M5.4 November 3, 2010 Kraljevo earthquake is analyzed. The base for this analysis is recorded reconstruction data that includes building types, damage states, damage survey dates, repair methods, and repair design, permit, and completion dates. Tracking the rate of building re-occupation and the rate of investment in repairs during the recovery process made it possible to construct empirical housing resilience curves for a community of about 70,000 people. The recorded data also provides insights into the reasons for different recovery rates for different building types and damages states, as well as a basis to evaluate the housing recovery management process and identify the significant influence of the reconstruction funding volume and rate on the sequencing, design and construction of the post-earthquake repairs. A comparison between the housing recovery after the 2010 Kraljevo and the 2009 Yunnan earthquakes shows significant simulates, pointing to the need to further improve, optimize and standardize post-earthquake housing recovery strategies worldwide.

Workplace Safety North (2015) reported 945 injuries related to mining in 2014 in Ontario, requiring the deployment of 53 emergency response teams. These statistics demonstrate the high risks of serious injury and fatality in the mining industry. Frequently occurring accidents include: underground fires, falls-of-ground, mobile equipment collisions, exposure to harmful environments, and falls from heights, which often require rescue (Government of Ontario, 2015b; Handbook of Training in Mine Rescue and Recovery Operations, 2014, Workplace Safety North Injury Statistics, 2015; Stewart, McDonald, Hunt, & Parker, 2008). Therefore, Mine operators rely on mine rescue teams, who have specialized skills in these issues, to save lives during an underground emergency. Mine Rescuers regularly participate in training simulations, which require teams of five to seven members, to solve a hypothetical rescue problem while timed and observed by judges (Handbook of Training in Mine Rescue and Recovery Operations, 2014). Simulations typically involve trapped miners who have to be found and rescued under challenging circumstances (T. Hanley, personal communication, December 15, 2017). Mine rescuers carry heavy gear (approximately 100lbs), including a metal stretcher, spare breathing apparatus, hydraulic equipment, and first aid supplies; while wearing personal protective equipment (e.g. Selfcontained breathing apparatus (SCBA), gloves, helmet, coveralls, boots etc.) (Handbook of Training in Mine Rescue and Recovery Operations, 2014). Research studying mine rescue participants demonstrate metabolic workloads between 400-700 Watts, with short bouts exceeding 1000 Watts; and often have concurrent heart rates nearing 100% of estimated maximum heart rate (HRmax estimated) (Stewart et al., 2008; Tomaskova, Jirak, Lvoncik, Buzga, Zavadilova, & Trlicova, 2015). In addition to extreme physical demands, underground mine conditions are often characterized by temperatures exceeding 40 °C, as well

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of clove oil (eugenol), benzocaine and sodium chloride on the induction, return time and survival rate of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) during the transport simulation of 5 hours. The experimental design was completely randomized, with 9 treatments in three replicates: Treatment 1: control, Treatment 2: benzocaine 20 mg / L, Treatment 3: benzocaine 40 mg / L, Treatment 4: eugenol 3 ml / L, Treatment 5: eugenol, Treatment 6: eugenol 3 ml + 5 g salt, Treatment 7: eugenol 6 ml + 10 g salt, Treatment 8: 5 g / L salt, Treatment 9: 10 g / L salt. No significant difference was observed for immediate survival rate, survival rate between 24 and 48 hours. In relation to the induction times, those were lower and significant for benzocaine 40 mg / L, eugenol 6 ml / L and the association between eugenol and salt (6 ml / L + 10 g) in comparison with other treatments. The return times of the anesthetics benzocaine 40mg / L, eugenol 6 ml / L and conjugation between eugenol and salt (6ml / L + 10g) were lower in relation to the treatments with lower concentration. The survival rate demonstrated satisfactory results in all treatments. However, benzocaine at 40 mg / L concentration was considered the most effective anesthetic for tilapia because it presented shorter induction and recovery times., Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito de diferentes concentrações de óleo-de-cravo (eugenol), benzocaína e cloreto de sódio no tempo de indução e retorno e na taxa de sobrevivência de Tilápia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus), durante a simulação de transporte de 5 horas. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com 9 tratamentos em três repetições: Tratamento 1: controle, Tratamento 2: benzocaína 20 mg/L, Tratamento 3: benzocaína 40 mg/L, Tratamento 4: eugenol 3 ml/L, Tratamento 5: eugenol 6 ml/L, Tratamento 6: 3 ml/L de eugenol + 5 g/L de sal, Tratamento 7: 6 ml de eugenol + 10 g/L de sal, Tratamento 8: sal 5 g/L, Tratamento 9: sal 10 g/L. Não foi observada diferença significativa para taxa de sobrevivência imediata, taxa de sobrevivência entre 24 e 48 horas. Em relação ao tempo de indução, este foi inferior e significativo para os tratamentos de benzocaína 40 mg/L, eugenol 6 ml/L e a associação entre 6 ml/L de eugenol mais 10g/L de sal em relação aos demais tratamentos. O tempo de retorno dos anestésicos benzocaína 40mg/L, eugenol 6 ml/L e conjugação entre 6ml/L de eugenol e 10g/L sal foi menor em relação aos tratamentos com menor concentração. A taxa de sobrevivência demonstrou resultados satisfatórios em todos os tratamentos. No entanto, a benzocaína na concentração 40 mg/L foi considerado o anestésico mais eficiente para tilápia por apresentar menores tempos de indução e recuperação.

Workplace Safety North (2015) reported 945 injuries related to mining in 2014 in Ontario, requiring the deployment of 53 emergency response teams. These statistics demonstrate the high risks of serious injury and fatality in the mining industry. Frequently occurring accidents include: underground fires, falls-of-ground, mobile equipment collisions, exposure to harmful environments, and falls from heights, which often require rescue (Government of Ontario, 2015b; Handbook of Training in Mine Rescue and Recovery Operations, 2014, Workplace Safety North Injury Statistics, 2015; Stewart, McDonald, Hunt, & Parker, 2008). Therefore, Mine operators rely on mine rescue teams, who have specialized skills in these issues, to save lives during an underground emergency. Mine Rescuers regularly participate in training simulations, which require teams of five to seven members, to solve a hypothetical rescue problem while timed and observed by judges (Handbook of Training in Mine Rescue and Recovery Operations, 2014). Simulations typically involve trapped miners who have to be found and rescued under challenging circumstances (T. Hanley, personal communication, December 15, 2017). Mine rescuers carry heavy gear (approximately 100lbs), including a metal stretcher, spare breathing apparatus, hydraulic equipment, and first aid supplies; while wearing personal protective equipment (e.g. Selfcontained breathing apparatus (SCBA), gloves, helmet, coveralls, boots etc.) (Handbook of Training in Mine Rescue and Recovery Operations, 2014). Research studying mine rescue participants demonstrate metabolic workloads between 400-700 Watts, with short bouts exceeding 1000 Watts; and often have concurrent heart rates nearing 100% of estimated maximum heart rate (HRmax estimated) (Stewart et al., 2008; Tomaskova, Jirak, Lvoncik, Buzga, Zavadilova, & Trlicova, 2015). In addition to extreme physical demands, underground mine conditions are often characterized by temperatures exceeding 40 °C, as well

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of clove oil (eugenol), benzocaine and sodium chloride on the induction, return time and survival rate of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) during the transport simulation of 5 hours. The experimental design was completely randomized, with 9 treatments in three replicates: Treatment 1: control, Treatment 2: benzocaine 20 mg / L, Treatment 3: benzocaine 40 mg / L, Treatment 4: eugenol 3 ml / L, Treatment 5: eugenol, Treatment 6: eugenol 3 ml + 5 g salt, Treatment 7: eugenol 6 ml + 10 g salt, Treatment 8: 5 g / L salt, Treatment 9: 10 g / L salt. No significant difference was observed for immediate survival rate, survival rate between 24 and 48 hours. In relation to the induction times, those were lower and significant for benzocaine 40 mg / L, eugenol 6 ml / L and the association between eugenol and salt (6 ml / L + 10 g) in comparison with other treatments. The return times of the anesthetics benzocaine 40mg / L, eugenol 6 ml / L and conjugation between eugenol and salt (6ml / L + 10g) were lower in relation to the treatments with lower concentration. The survival rate demonstrated satisfactory results in all treatments. However, benzocaine at 40 mg / L concentration was considered the most effective anesthetic for tilapia because it presented shorter induction and recovery times., Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito de diferentes concentrações de óleo-de-cravo (eugenol), benzocaína e cloreto de sódio no tempo de indução e retorno e na taxa de sobrevivência de Tilápia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus), durante a simulação de transporte de 5 horas. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com 9 tratamentos em três repetições: Tratamento 1: controle, Tratamento 2: benzocaína 20 mg/L, Tratamento 3: benzocaína 40 mg/L, Tratamento 4: eugenol 3 ml/L, Tratamento 5: eugenol 6 ml/L, Tratamento 6: 3 ml/L de eugenol + 5 g/L de sal, Tratamento 7: 6 ml de eugenol + 10 g/L de sal, Tratamento 8: sal 5 g/L, Tratamento 9: sal 10 g/L. Não foi observada diferença significativa para taxa de sobrevivência imediata, taxa de sobrevivência entre 24 e 48 horas. Em relação ao tempo de indução, este foi inferior e significativo para os tratamentos de benzocaína 40 mg/L, eugenol 6 ml/L e a associação entre 6 ml/L de eugenol mais 10g/L de sal em relação aos demais tratamentos. O tempo de retorno dos anestésicos benzocaína 40mg/L, eugenol 6 ml/L e conjugação entre 6ml/L de eugenol e 10g/L sal foi menor em relação aos tratamentos com menor concentração. A taxa de sobrevivência demonstrou resultados satisfatórios em todos os tratamentos. No entanto, a benzocaína na concentração 40 mg/L foi considerado o anestésico mais eficiente para tilápia por apresentar menores tempos de indução e recuperação.

Earthquake resilience starts with a sudden drop of performance when an earthquake strikes followed by a relatively long recovery phase. The dynamics and volume of investment directly affect the rate and level of recovery. In this paper, the recovery process of the city of Kraljevo, Serbia following the M5.4 November 3, 2010 Kraljevo earthquake is analyzed. The base for this analysis is recorded reconstruction data that includes building types, damage states, damage survey dates, repair methods, and repair design, permit, and completion dates. Tracking the rate of building re-occupation and the rate of investment in repairs during the recovery process made it possible to construct empirical housing resilience curves for a community of about 70,000 people. The recorded data also provides insights into the reasons for different recovery rates for different building types and damages states, as well as a basis to evaluate the housing recovery management process and identify the significant influence of the reconstruction funding volume and rate on the sequencing, design and construction of the post-earthquake repairs. A comparison between the housing recovery after the 2010 Kraljevo and the 2009 Yunnan earthquakes shows significant simulates, pointing to the need to further improve, optimize and standardize post-earthquake housing recovery strategies worldwide.

Safety-critical real-time systems like modern automobiles with advanced driving-assist features must employ redundancy for crucial software tasks to tolerate permanent crash faults. This redundancy can be achieved by using techniques like active replication or the primary-backup approach. In such systems, the recovery time which is the amount of time it takes for a redundant task to take over execution on the failure of a primary task becomes a very important design parameter. The recovery time for a given task depends on various factors like task allocation, primary and redundant task priorities, system load and the scheduling policy. Each task can also have a different recovery time requirement (RTR). For example, in automobiles with automated driving features, safety-critical tasks like perception and steering control have strict RTRs, whereas such requirements are more relaxed in the case of tasks like heating control and mission planning. In this paper, we analyze the recovery time for software tasks in a real-time system employing Rate-Monotonic Scheduling (RMS). We derive bounds on the recovery times for different redundant task options and propose techniques to determine the redundant-task type for a task to satisfy its RTR. We also address the fault-tolerant task allocation problem, with the additional constraint of satisfying the RTR of each task in the system. Given that the problem of assigning tasks to processors is a well-known NP-hard bin-packing problem we propose computationally-efficient heuristics to find a feasible allocation of tasks and their redundant copies. We also apply the simulated annealing method to the fault-tolerant task allocation problem with RTR constraints and compare against our heuristics.

Rain impacts roadways such as wet pavement, standing water, decreased visibility, and wind gusts and can lead to hazardous driving conditions. This study investigates the use of high fidelity Doppler data at 1 km spatial and 2-minute temporal resolution in combination with commercial probe speed data on freeways. Segment-based space-mean speeds were used and drops in speeds during rainfall events of 5.5 mm/hour or greater over a one-month period on a section of four to six-lane interstate were assessed. Speed reductions were evaluated as a time series over a 1-hour window with the rain data. Three interpolation methods for estimating rainfall rates were tested and seven metrics were developed for the analysis. The study found sharp drops in speed of more than 40 mph occurred at estimated rainfall rates of 30 mm/hour or greater, but the drops did not become more severe beyond this threshold. The average time of first detected rainfall to impacting speeds was 17 minutes. The bilinear method detected the greatest number of events during the 1-month period, with the most conservative rate of predicted rainfall. The range of rainfall intensities were estimated between 7.5 to 106 mm/hour for the 39 events. This range was much greater than the heavy rainfall categorization at 16 mm/hour in previous studies reported in the literature. The bilinear interpolation method for Doppler data is recommended because it detected the greatest number of events and had the longest rain duration and lowest estimated maximum rainfall out of three methods tested, suggesting the method balanced awareness of the weather conditions around the roadway with isolated, localized rain intensities.

Rain impacts roadways such as wet pavement, standing water, decreased visibility, and wind gusts and can lead to hazardous driving conditions. This study investigates the use of high fidelity Doppler data at 1 km spatial and 2-minute temporal resolution in combination with commercial probe speed data on freeways. Segment-based space-mean speeds were used and drops in speeds during rainfall events of 5.5 mm/hour or greater over a one-month period on a section of four to six-lane interstate were assessed. Speed reductions were evaluated as a time series over a 1-hour window with the rain data. Three interpolation methods for estimating rainfall rates were tested and seven metrics were developed for the analysis. The study found sharp drops in speed of more than 40 mph occurred at estimated rainfall rates of 30 mm/hour or greater, but the drops did not become more severe beyond this threshold. The average time of first detected rainfall to impacting speeds was 17 minutes. The bilinear method detected the greatest number of events during the 1-month period, with the most conservative rate of predicted rainfall. The range of rainfall intensities were estimated between 7.5 to 106 mm/hour for the 39 events. This range was much greater than the heavy rainfall categorization at 16 mm/hour in previous studies reported in the literature. The bilinear interpolation method for Doppler data is recommended because it detected the greatest number of events and had the longest rain duration and lowest estimated maximum rainfall out of three methods tested, suggesting the method balanced awareness of the weather conditions around the roadway with isolated, localized rain intensities.

Safety-critical real-time systems like modern automobiles with advanced driving-assist features must employ redundancy for crucial software tasks to tolerate permanent crash faults. This redundancy can be achieved by using techniques like active replication or the primary-backup approach. In such systems, the recovery time which is the amount of time it takes for a redundant task to take over execution on the failure of a primary task becomes a very important design parameter. The recovery time for a given task depends on various factors like task allocation, primary and redundant task priorities, system load and the scheduling policy. Each task can also have a different recovery time requirement (RTR). For example, in automobiles with automated driving features, safety-critical tasks like perception and steering control have strict RTRs, whereas such requirements are more relaxed in the case of tasks like heating control and mission planning. In this paper, we analyze the recovery time for software tasks in a real-time system employing Rate-Monotonic Scheduling (RMS). We derive bounds on the recovery times for different redundant task options and propose techniques to determine the redundant-task type for a task to satisfy its RTR. We also address the fault-tolerant task allocation problem, with the additional constraint of satisfying the RTR of each task in the system. Given that the problem of assigning tasks to processors is a well-known NP-hard bin-packing problem we propose computationally-efficient heuristics to find a feasible allocation of tasks and their redundant copies. We also apply the simulated annealing method to the fault-tolerant task allocation problem with RTR constraints and compare against our heuristics.

To understand mechanisms of long-term hydrological and biogeochemical recovery after forest disturbance, it is important to evaluate recovery times (i.e., time scales associated with the return to baseline or predisturbance conditions) of stream runoff and nitrate concentration. Previous studies have focused on either the response of runoff or nitrate concentration, and some have specifically addressed recovery times following disturbance. However, controlling factors have not yet been elucidated. Knowing these relationships will advance our understanding of each recovery process. The objectives of this study were to explore the relationship between runoff and nitrate recovery times and identify potential factors controlling each. We acquired long-term runoff and stream water nitrate concentration data from 20 sites in the USA and Japan. We then examined the relationship between runoff and nitrate recovery times at these multiple sites and use these relationships to discuss the ecosystem dynamics following forest disturbance. Nitrate response was detected at all study sites, while runoff responses were detected at all sites with disturbance intensities greater than 75% of the catchment area. The runoff recovery time was significantly correlated with the nitrate recovery time for catchments that had a runoff response. For these catchments, hydrological recovery times were slower than nitrate recovery times. The relationship between these two recovery times suggests that forest regeneration was a common control on both recovery times. However, the faster recovery time for nitrate suggests that nitrogen was less available or less mobile in these catchments than water.

Groundwater is one of the main natural resources worldwide. Groundwater exists in aquifers below the earth surface and provides quantities of water for various purposes such as supply to households and businesses, public supply, drinking water supply, irrigation and agriculture. Sweden is also highly dependent on groundwater. As mentioned in the list of 16 Environmental Quality Objectives, that the Swedish Parliament established, "groundwater must assure a safe and sustainable supply of drinking water, as well as promoting viable habitats for plants and animals in lakes and watercourses". However, the protection of groundwater and generally the aquifer resources is prone to various human activities that are harmful in terms of volume and quality. The present thesis aims to investigate the behavior of groundwater towards such human activities of large scales, like a tunnel construction, and small scale, like a construction of a geothermal plant. The area under study is investigated through spatial analysis, using ArcGIS; the groundwater levels are monitored and further statistically analyzed by implementing a Modified Double Mass Statistical Analysis; and further on a 3D numerical model is built in COMSOL Multiphysics in order to simulate possible drawdown caused by human intervention to the natural environment. The created 3D model was used in order to evaluate the drawdown and different scenarios were implemented with the aim to determine the degree of sensitivity the model has towards fracture parameters. Since the occurrence of fractures in the rock mass is often connected to extended investigation and time/cost consuming techniques, the model contains an overall uncertainty concerning the location and properties of the fracture formations in the area. The different scenarios involve variation of fracture zone width and thus the behavior of the top soil layer is investigated in terms of recovery after drawdown. The results indicated connection to human activities, Grundvatten är en av de viktigaste naturresurserna världen över. Grundvatten finns i akviferer under jordytan och ger vatten för olika ändamål så som tillförsel till hushåll och företag, kommunalt bruk, dricksvattenförsörjning, bevattning och jordbruk. Även Sverige är mycket beroende av grundvatten. I en sammanställning av 16 nationella miljökvalitetsmål fastställde riksdagen bland annat att "grundvatten måste säkerställa ett säkert och hållbart utbud av dricksvatten samt att främja livskraftiga livsmiljöer för växter och djur i sjöar och vattendrag". Skyddet av grundvatten och de allmänna vattenresursresurserna är framtaget för att begränsa påverkan från olika mänskliga aktiviteter som är skadliga när det gäller volym och kvalitet. Föreliggande uppsats syftar till att undersöka grundvattnets beteende till följd av storskaliga mänskliga aktiviteter, till exempel en tunnelkonstruktion, och mindre aktiviteter, till exempel byggnation av en geotermisk anläggning. Det område som studeras undersöks genom rumslig analys, med hjälp av ArcGIS; grundvattennivån övervakas och analyseras vidare statistiskt genom implementering av en statistisk analys av Modified Double Mass Statistical Analysis; en numerisk 3D-modell byggs i mjukvaran COMSOL Multiphysics för att simulera möjlig grundvattennivåsänkning orsakad av mänsklig påverkan i den naturliga miljön. 3D-modellen användes för att utvärdera eventuell grundvattensänkning och olika scenarier implementerades med syfte att bestämma graden av känslighet med avseende på sprickparameterar i modellen. Eftersom förekomst av sprickor i bergmassan ofta innebär ett behov av utökad undersökning och tid/kostnadskrävande tekniker innehåller modellen en övergripande osäkerhet om platsen samt egenskaper hos sprickorna i området. De olika scenarierna involverar variation av sprickzonsbredd och det övre jordskiktets beteende betraktas i termer av återhämtning efter avsänkt grundvattennivå. Resultaten indikerade koppling till mänskliga aktivitet

Groundwater is one of the main natural resources worldwide. Groundwater exists in aquifers below the earth surface and provides quantities of water for various purposes such as supply to households and businesses, public supply, drinking water supply, irrigation and agriculture. Sweden is also highly dependent on groundwater. As mentioned in the list of 16 Environmental Quality Objectives, that the Swedish Parliament established, "groundwater must assure a safe and sustainable supply of drinking water, as well as promoting viable habitats for plants and animals in lakes and watercourses". However, the protection of groundwater and generally the aquifer resources is prone to various human activities that are harmful in terms of volume and quality. The present thesis aims to investigate the behavior of groundwater towards such human activities of large scales, like a tunnel construction, and small scale, like a construction of a geothermal plant. The area under study is investigated through spatial analysis, using ArcGIS; the groundwater levels are monitored and further statistically analyzed by implementing a Modified Double Mass Statistical Analysis; and further on a 3D numerical model is built in COMSOL Multiphysics in order to simulate possible drawdown caused by human intervention to the natural environment. The created 3D model was used in order to evaluate the drawdown and different scenarios were implemented with the aim to determine the degree of sensitivity the model has towards fracture parameters. Since the occurrence of fractures in the rock mass is often connected to extended investigation and time/cost consuming techniques, the model contains an overall uncertainty concerning the location and properties of the fracture formations in the area. The different scenarios involve variation of fracture zone width and thus the behavior of the top soil layer is investigated in terms of recovery after drawdown. The results indicated connection to human activities, Grundvatten är en av de viktigaste naturresurserna världen över. Grundvatten finns i akviferer under jordytan och ger vatten för olika ändamål så som tillförsel till hushåll och företag, kommunalt bruk, dricksvattenförsörjning, bevattning och jordbruk. Även Sverige är mycket beroende av grundvatten. I en sammanställning av 16 nationella miljökvalitetsmål fastställde riksdagen bland annat att "grundvatten måste säkerställa ett säkert och hållbart utbud av dricksvatten samt att främja livskraftiga livsmiljöer för växter och djur i sjöar och vattendrag". Skyddet av grundvatten och de allmänna vattenresursresurserna är framtaget för att begränsa påverkan från olika mänskliga aktiviteter som är skadliga när det gäller volym och kvalitet. Föreliggande uppsats syftar till att undersöka grundvattnets beteende till följd av storskaliga mänskliga aktiviteter, till exempel en tunnelkonstruktion, och mindre aktiviteter, till exempel byggnation av en geotermisk anläggning. Det område som studeras undersöks genom rumslig analys, med hjälp av ArcGIS; grundvattennivån övervakas och analyseras vidare statistiskt genom implementering av en statistisk analys av Modified Double Mass Statistical Analysis; en numerisk 3D-modell byggs i mjukvaran COMSOL Multiphysics för att simulera möjlig grundvattennivåsänkning orsakad av mänsklig påverkan i den naturliga miljön. 3D-modellen användes för att utvärdera eventuell grundvattensänkning och olika scenarier implementerades med syfte att bestämma graden av känslighet med avseende på sprickparameterar i modellen. Eftersom förekomst av sprickor i bergmassan ofta innebär ett behov av utökad undersökning och tid/kostnadskrävande tekniker innehåller modellen en övergripande osäkerhet om platsen samt egenskaper hos sprickorna i området. De olika scenarierna involverar variation av sprickzonsbredd och det övre jordskiktets beteende betraktas i termer av återhämtning efter avsänkt grundvattennivå. Resultaten indikerade koppling till mänskliga aktivitet

[EN] The manufacturer industry is characterized by the presence of highly repetitive movements, which is a major risk factor associated with work musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Moreover, this risk factor worsens when workers do not take adequate rest periods. This paper analyzes the problem and presents a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) mathematical model to minimize makespan in an n¿job flow-shop problem with sequence-dependent setup times by considering recovery times. To this end, the model combines the effectiveness of MILP mathematical model optimization with the OCRA ergonomic assessment method. The model calculates work-recovery periods in workers¿ schedules based on the OCRA included in standards UNE¿EN 1005¿5:2007 and ISO 11228¿3:2007. Finally, a case study in a Food Sector Company is described., [ES] La industria manufacturera se caracteriza por la presencia de una elevada repetitividad de movimientos de sus trabajadores, siendo éste un importante factor de riesgo asociado con los trastornos musculoesqueléticos (TME) de origen laboral. Además, dicho factor de riesgo empeora cuando los trabajadores no realizan períodos de descanso adecuados. Este artículo analiza dicha problemática y presenta un modelo matemático de Programación Lineal Entera Mixta (PLEM) para minimizar el makespan en un problema de secuenciación flow-shop de n-trabajos con tiempos de setup dependientes de la secuencia, considerando los tiempos de recuperación de los trabajadores. Para ello, el modelo combina la efectividad de la optimización del modelo matemático de PLEM con el método de evaluación ergonómica OCRA. El modelo calcula los períodos de recuperación de los trabajadores según el método OCRA incluido en las normas UNE-EN 1005-5: 2007 e ISO 11228-3: 2007. Finalmente, se describe un caso de estudio en una empresa del sector alimentario.

[EN] The manufacturer industry is characterized by the presence of highly repetitive movements, which is a major risk factor associated with work musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Moreover, this risk factor worsens when workers do not take adequate rest periods. This paper analyzes the problem and presents a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) mathematical model to minimize makespan in an n¿job flow-shop problem with sequence-dependent setup times by considering recovery times. To this end, the model combines the effectiveness of MILP mathematical model optimization with the OCRA ergonomic assessment method. The model calculates work-recovery periods in workers¿ schedules based on the OCRA included in standards UNE¿EN 1005¿5:2007 and ISO 11228¿3:2007. Finally, a case study in a Food Sector Company is described., [ES] La industria manufacturera se caracteriza por la presencia de una elevada repetitividad de movimientos de sus trabajadores, siendo éste un importante factor de riesgo asociado con los trastornos musculoesqueléticos (TME) de origen laboral. Además, dicho factor de riesgo empeora cuando los trabajadores no realizan períodos de descanso adecuados. Este artículo analiza dicha problemática y presenta un modelo matemático de Programación Lineal Entera Mixta (PLEM) para minimizar el makespan en un problema de secuenciación flow-shop de n-trabajos con tiempos de setup dependientes de la secuencia, considerando los tiempos de recuperación de los trabajadores. Para ello, el modelo combina la efectividad de la optimización del modelo matemático de PLEM con el método de evaluación ergonómica OCRA. El modelo calcula los períodos de recuperación de los trabajadores según el método OCRA incluido en las normas UNE-EN 1005-5: 2007 e ISO 11228-3: 2007. Finalmente, se describe un caso de estudio en una empresa del sector alimentario.