Health technology assessment

The aim of this chapter is to help the public health practitioner to: learn what health technology assessment (HTA) is in healthcare and in public health domains; understand that HTA is a powerful tool for the governance of the healthcare systems at all their levels: macro (national and regional), meso (hospitals and healthcare services organizations), and micro (healthcare professionals); understand that HTA is a multidisciplinary, multidimensional and multistakeholder process; gain knowledge about how to develop an HTA report to support decision makers in taking the best possible decisions; know the main sources of data to base the assessment contents on evidence; recognize the role of HTA in public health

The Use of Concrete Media in Science Learning in Inquiry to Improve Science Process Skills for Simple Machine subject

This study aims to determine the improvement of science process skills with the media using concrete in science learning by inquiry. The study was conducted using a quasi-experimental design with a nonequivalent control group design. In the experimental group applied to learn to utilize concrete media in learning science in an inquiry, while the control class applied to conventional learning utilizing audio-visual media. Subject: The study included 60 students of class V Elementary School performances in Purwakarta district. The test results for the normalization gain skills enhancement process gain values obtained experimental class (N-gain 0.46) is greater than the value of the class gain control (N-gain 0.17). Based on the test results mean difference two improvements by using the t-test, obtained t = 2.688 table = 2.045, with sig. 0.012 α 0.05 then H0 is rejected and Ha. Therefore, inquiry science learning by utilizing concrete media can significantly improve students' science process skills.

“Shoot! Can We Restart the Interview?”: Lessons From Practicing “Uncomfortable Reflexivity”

Failure is a typical experience in research, but it is largely taboo in published studies. In recent years, however, we can observe a small yet growing body of literature on failure in qualitative research to address this gap. In this article, I contribute my experiences of failed interviews in a mixed-methods study in Germany to this body of literature and highlight some aspects of failure that have not yet received enough attention. First, in my example, it was not only one interview or a few interviews that failed; rather, it seemed that the whole study failed in design due to particular methodical decisions. Second, failed research presents an intellectual challenge, but it also produces emotional and social trouble because failed research might be attributed to a failed researcher. This may be one reason failure is so damaging for one’s well-being and so difficult to share. Nevertheless, practicing some form of “uncomfortable reflexivity” (Pillow, 2003) via qualitative, close analysis helped me navigate the research process, gain methodical insights and substantive results. Third, I share lessons that might be useful for other researchers: reading literature on failure, the search for a safe and supportive space, and analyzing failure as closely and early as possible.

Power flow management of triple active bridge for fuel cell applications

<p>The power conditioning circuits which are used in fuel cell systems should carefully be designed to prolong the life span of the system, for the reason of the dynamic nature, such that the unexpected and extreme changes in load decreases the life of the fuel cells. This paper presents the triple active bridge (TAB) and it’s average small signal modelling, which is used for design of the system controllers for stable operation. The extended symmetrical optimum method is used for realized the proportional integral (PI) controller, to control the output/Load voltage and power flow in the fuel cell/Source with a guaranteed minimum phase margin for the system with a variable process gain in addition to other accepted desired performances. This method ensures the maximum phase margin at a minimum required value at the desired gain crossover frequency with a compromise between system’s peak overshoot, rise time and settling time. This model and this approach helps in designing TAB suitable for healthy and uninterrupted fuel cell power generation systems as a part of a renewable /clean energy system. MATLAB/Simulink is used to simulate the proposed controllers with TAB.</p>

Scanning the horizon

This chapter concludes the book with a number of challenging questions concerning the future. Among them are, will the movement to listen to and take account of the voices of children and young people in the policy process gain more public recognition and support? What will be the impact of further rapid advances in information technology on children themselves, their parents, and the helping professions? Will principles of preventive mental health and early supportive intervention come to underlie and be integral to the work of the education services (and primary healthcare) and that of the interdisciplinary family justice system? The chapter also considers the prospects for developing an early preventive approach to promote children and young people's positive mental health and wellbeing.

An Infinite Model Predictive Controller for Multi Input Nonlinear Processes

This paper presents a novel algorithm of an infinite model predictive controller for controlling nonlinear multi-input multi-output (MIMO) processes. The new strategy uses a set of continuous nonlinear functions that captures the nonlinear characteristics of the MIMO plant over a wide operating range resulting in a more accurate prediction of the controlled variables. The method formulates a nonlinear dynamic matrix that is manipulated variable dependent during closed-loop control. The proposed algorithm was implemented on a nonlinear MIMO thermal system comprising of three temperature zones to be controlled with interacting effects. The experimental closed-loop responses of the proposed algorithm were compared to a multi-model dynamic matrix controller (DMC) with improved results for various setpoint trajectories. The MIMO process has nonlinear parameters such as process gain and time constant that are dependent on the size of the control actions. Good disturbance rejection was attained resulting in improved tracking of multi-setpoint profiles in comparison to multi-model DMC.

ЕФЕКТИВНІСТЬ ВИКОНАННЯ КОМП'ЮТЕРНО-ГЕНЕРОВАНИХ ВПРАВ ІЗ ПРЕДМЕТА «ІНФОРМАЦІЙНІ ТЕХНОЛОГІЇ В ФАРМАЦІЇ НА ОСНОВІ КОГНІТИВНИХ ПРОТОТИПІВ

The paper describes a research to corroborate a hypothesis that wor king on training exercises based on prototypes of human cognitive structures helps enhance student’s knowledge digestion and engagement in learning process, gain a higher level of t h eir progress in studies and achieve a better academic performance. The results of t he research confirmed the hypothesis of better and more rapid digestion of declarative knowledge on the subject of “Information Technologies in Pharmacy”, represented in the tor m of prototypes of human cognitive structures. The results of the entrance test controls showed better on average by 10 % (p&lt;0.05) theoretical achievements of students in the experimental group who wor ked on training exercises in the format of cognitive structures. Drowning a ch art of students’ perfor mance in control and experimental groups for ten lessons and a trend line (linear regression) on it allowed us to hi ghlight the si gnificant difference in the inclinations of the lines with indices of 0.067 and 0.111 in the control and experimental group, respectively. This indicated a stable acceleration of knowledge by students in t he experimental group in comparison with the control group and proved an enhanced academic perfor mance among the groups of students.

Tibia Fracture Healing Prediction Using First-Order Mathematical Model

The prediction of healing period of a tibia fracture in humans across limb using first-order mathematical model is demonstrated. At present, fracture healing is diagnosed using X-rays. Recent studies have demonstrated electric stimulation as a diagnostic tool in fracture healing. A DC electric voltage of 0.7 V was applied across the fracture and stabilized with Teflon coated carbon rings and the data was recorded at different time intervals until the fracture heals. The experimental data fitted a first-order plus dead time zero model (FOPDTZ) that coincided with the mathematical model of electrical simulated tibia fracture limb. Fracture healing diagnosis was proposed using model parameter process gain. Current stabilization in terms of process gain parameter becoming constant indicates that the healing of fracture is a new finding in the work. An error analysis was performed and it was observed that the measured data correlated to the FOPDTZ model with an error of less than 2 percent. Prediction of fracture healing period was done by one of the identified model parameters, namely, process gain. Moreover, mathematically, it is justified that once the fracture is completely united there is no capacitance present across the fracture site, which is a novelty of the work.

Bellwether Garden Supply: Revising Purchase and Disbursement Processes and Controls in the Implementation of a New Accounting Application

ABSTRACT An appreciation for the complementary nature of manual and automated controls is fundamental for the proper evaluation and maintenance of accounting information systems (AIS). Additionally, the implementation of application access controls is often critical for ensuring an appropriate separation of duties and, ultimately, the reliability of a given transaction processing system. This paper describes a project where students act as consultants for Bellwether Garden Supply (BGS), a small retailer in Norcross, GA.1 In the case setting, BGS is in the process of completing the implementation of Sage 50. BGS management has asked student consulting teams to evaluate its current purchases and disbursements processes and organizational structure, to make any revisions necessary to accommodate the new technology, and to document the post-implementation process using Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN). The case provides a rich, semi-structured setting where students can: improve their understanding of application access controls, separation of duties, and other key controls in the purchases and disbursements process; gain an appreciation of the importance of the context in which accounting applications are implemented; and enhance their communication skills using BPMN.