Leveraging Epidemiology to Improve Risk Assessment.

The field of environmental public health is at an important crossroad. Our current biomonitoring efforts document widespread exposure to a host of chemicals for which toxicity information is lacking. At the same time, advances in the fields of genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, genetics and epigenetics are yielding volumes of data at a rapid pace. Our ability to detect chemicals in biological and environmental media has far outpaced our ability to interpret their health relevance, and as a result, the environmental risk paradigm, in its current state, is antiquated and ill-equipped to make the best use of these new data. In light of new scientific developments and the pressing need to characterize the public health burdens of chemicals, it is imperative to reinvigorate the use of environmental epidemiology in chemical risk assessment. Two case studies of chemical assessments from the Environmental Protection Agency Integrated Risk Information System database are presented to illustrate opportunities where epidemiologic data could have been used in place of experimental animal data in dose-response assessment, or where different approaches, techniques, or studies could have been employed to better utilize existing epidemiologic evidence. Based on the case studies and what can be learned from recent scientific advances and improved approaches to utilizing human data for dose-response estimation, recommendations are provided for the disciplines of epidemiology and risk assessment for enhancing the role of epidemiologic data in hazard identification and dose-response assessment

Bounds of the Legendre Function

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/113747/1/sapm195534143.pd

The design of a tape deck controller

A controller was built to interface the SCC-650 general purpose digital computer and the Kennedy Model 1400R incremental write/continuous read tape unit. All logic design information, signal lists, and tape deck instructions are included --Abstract, page ii

Facial expression transfer method based on frequency analysis

We propose a novel expression transfer method based on an analysis of the frequency of multi-expression facial images. We locate the facial features automatically and describe the shape deformations between a neutral expression and non-neutral expressions. The subtle expression changes are important visual clues to distinguish different expressions. These changes are more salient in the frequency domain than in the image domain. We extract the subtle local expression deformations for the source subject, coded in the wavelet decomposition. This information about expressions is transferred to a target subject. The resulting synthesized image preserves both the facial appearance of the target subject and the expression details of the source subject. This method is extended to dynamic expression transfer to allow a more precise interpretation of facial expressions. Experiments on Japanese Female Facial Expression (JAFFE), the extended Cohn-Kanade (CK+) and PIE facial expression databases show the superiority of our method over the state-of-the-art method

Towards multispecies spaces. Rethinking architectural practice in the context of urban biodiversity loss

The loss of biodiversity is one of the defining issues of our time. Even though cities provide valuable spaces for many animal and plant species urban habitats are endangered by increasing densification. By fragmenting habitat networks, the built environment currently poses one of the main causes for biodiversity loss in urban areas. Urban biodiversity strategies are often lacking practical approaches to tackle the conflict between nature conservation and urban development. This shortcoming calls for a new and systematic design approach that reconciles the spatial needs of human and non-human inhabitants. This thesis aims at developing a framework prototype for determining points of intervention in the urban sphere as well as finding ways to incorporate animal species needs into planning and design process. The methods used include a geospatial network analysis of the example city as well as an experimental design process. The analysis aims at determining building sites suitable for the application of a Multispecies Design framework. Based on the analysis as well as species occurrence data, one exemplary animal species was chosen to develop the design framework. Parameters for the design process were determined and tested throughout the process and include the spatial and climatic habitat requirements of the chosen animal species. In a multilevel process, these parameters were iteratively merged with requirements given by building regulations and site context through the Rhinoceros’ computational design and analysis plugin Grasshopper and its extensions, Kangaroo, Anemone, and Ladybug. Three main design scales were approached and schematically articulated throughout the process: building mass distribution, building zoning, and habitat geometry. This process resulted in a complex network of parameters, tools and actions which were then organized to outline the framework. Additionally, the framework was exemplarily illustrated, and the findings of the process evaluated within the scope of the thesis. As a result, urban wastelands were determined as potential intervention points to apply a Multispecies Design framework as they constitute building land as well as biodiversity hubs. The potential of Multispecies Design to converge urban development and nature conservation lies in integrating ecological knowledge into the process and acknowledging the site as part of a natural ecosystem. The necessity but also the challenge of integrating ecological knowledge into architectural practice became evident during the process. By thoroughly documenting the framework design process, moments in time when ecological knowledge is needed are mapped out and provide orientation points for multidisciplinary collaboration. Finally, the design process showed the potential of computational design as tool to address the problematic impermeability of contemporary building typologies. The insight resulting from design investigations is that to diminish the barriers created by the built environment a new urban typology is needed and could be approached through computational design. Adapting building mass and space distribution based on data derived from simulation and environmental information in Rhinoceros and Grasshopper points at a new field of informed space articulation that could potentially converge human and non-human needs

Lunar photo study, phase 2 Final report, 1 Nov. 1965 - 1 Nov. 1966

Lunar photo study of simulated lunar surface

Facilities planning : case study at Enterprise, a division of Tiger Brands

A facility planning project was conducted at Enterprise, a meat processing facility in Gauteng. The project involved the facility layout and design of the hamper room. The hamper room is defined as an area where four different hampers are manually packed with a range of 19 different products. (Each hamper consists of a mixture of some of the products.) The day after the hampers have been packed, they are sold at Enterprise’s factory shops. These shops are located in Germiston and Polokwane. The hampers are in high demand and thus each hamper not packed is considered as a loss of sales. An in-depth as-is analysis of the hamper room facility was performed. A literature study was conducted to understand the problems. This document contains recommendations to rectify issues of labour utilization, wastages, high inventory levels and inadequate facility layout. The degree to which the output of the hamper room does not conform to the demand was calculated and converted into cost of lost sales. The problem investigation and the conceptual design revealed alternative layouts that will allow the hamper room to fulfil the required demand while addressing scheduling and safety hazard issues. Employee ownership, order replenishment schedules and alternative layouts were investigated and recommendations were made. The aim of the recommendations was to improve overall efficiency. The final recommended solution was then verified and validated. The most significant improvement from the current facility is alternative layout 3. Implementation of this layout will ensure that the unfilled demand of 13 pallets per day is fulfilled. This fulfilment will decrease the cost of lost sales that amounted to R175 500-00 per day.Mini Dissertation (B Eng. (Industrial and Systems Engineering))--University of Pretoria, 2017

Die Auswirkung der Lohndifferenzierung auf die Beschäftigungsentwicklung - ein theoriengestützter Staatenvergleich

Inhaltsverzeichnis: 1. Einleitung; 1.1. Problemstellung und Motivationsbeschreibung; 1.2. Methodik und Führung durch die Arbeit; 2. Der theoretische Rahmen; 2.1. Das neoklassische Arbeitsmarktmodell; 2.2. Das Strukturmodell; 2.3. Regulationen und Institutionen des Arbeitsmarktes; 3. Historische Einordnung und Herleitung der Hypothesen; 3.1. Deregulierung der industriellen Beziehungen; 3.2. Herleitung der Hypothesen; 4. Ländervergleich: Deutschland - Großbritannien; 4.1. Allgemeiner Überblick; 4.2. Lohnflexibilität; 4.3. Beschäftigungsentwicklung; 5. Ergebnis und abschließende Überlegungen; Anhang

A Phenomenological Study of the Experience of Humanist, Spiritual, and Transpersonal Films on Positive Organizational Behaviors in the Workplace

A solution is needed to counteract violent news, Internet, and other negative media images and management behaviors in the workplace, in order to boost engagement and prosocial behaviors at work. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the attitudes of working professionals toward prosocial behaviors and employee engagement in the workplace as affected by transpersonal Hollywood films. An organization\u27s ability to survive is directly related to empowerment and innovation. Classic films provide a gateway for transpersonal experiences that could change behavior and thoughts. Peterson and Seligman\u27s transformational typology involving 6 character virtues and 24 strengths was the basis for coding 8 positive films that were viewed by participants. Data collection consisted of 2 in-depth interviews, 8 written film questionnaires, and an exit interview from a criterion-based, purposeful sample of 10 adult working nonmanagerial professionals living in Los Angeles, employed in any industry except the entertainment industry. Six to 10 participants, according to researchers, are an appropriate number for saturation. The most prevalent strengths mentioned were social intelligence and perspective, followed by integrity, hope and open-mindedness. Frequent phrases that corresponded to the 6 virtue categories were wisdom/knowledge and humanity. The results revealed that positive films could be a boon for industrial/organizational issues involving recruitment, training, motivation, and prosocial behaviors. The use of positive transpersonal Hollywood films in human capital development could lead to positive social change in the workplace by reducing worker sick days and promoting a happier workforce with increased innovation and productivity