Sensitivity Analysis (SA) generally refers to an assessment of the sensitivity of the output(s) of some complex model with respect to changes in the input(s). Examples of inputs or outputs include initial state variables, parameters of a numerical model, or state variables at some future time. SA can be useful for data assimilation, model tuning, and dimensionality reduction. However, many comm...

We evaluate QoE of multiview video and selectable audio (MVV-SA), in which users can switch not only video but also audio according to a viewpoint change request, transmitted over IP networks by a subjective experiment. The evaluation is performed by the semantic differential (SD) method with 13 adjective pairs. In the subjective experiment, we ask assessors to evaluate 40 stimuli which consist...

This paper describes a new stochastic heuristic algorithm in engineering problem optimization especially in power system applications. An improved particle swarm optimization (PSO) called adaptive particle swarm optimization (APSO), mixed with simulated annealing (SA), is introduced and referred to as APSO-SA. This algorithm uses a novel PSO algorithm (APSO) to increase the convergence rate and...

This paper describes a new stochastic heuristic algorithm in engineering problem optimization especially in power system applications. An improved particle swarm optimization (PSO), called Adaptive particle swarm optimization (APSO), mixed with simulated annealing (SA) that will be named APSO-SA is introduced. This algorithm uses a novel PSO algorithm (APSO) to increase convergence rate and inc...

Cerebral autoregulation is impaired in Himalayan high-altitude residents who live above 4,200 m. This study was undertaken to determine the altitude at which this impairment of autoregulation occurs. A second aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that administration of oxygen can reverse this impairment in autoregulation at high altitudes. In four groups of 10 Himalayan high-altitude dwel...

The key event in tactile sense about an object in contact with the skin surface is how the stress and strain subjected to the mechanical loading are transduced into neural impulses by the mechanorecptors within the skin. In order to investigate the mechanism of transduction by the mechanoreceptors, a biomechanically validated three-dimensional finite element model for primate fingertips was use...

One of the main causes of accidents in safety-critical systems is human error. In order to reduce human errors in the process of handling abnormal situations that are highly complex and mentally taxing activities, operators need to be supported, from a cognitive perspective, in order to reduce their workload, stress, and the consequent error rate. Of the various cognitive activities, a correct ...

OBJECTIVES To assess the appreciation of self assessment (SA) by multiple choice question (MCQ) tests during continuous professional development (CPD) meetings and to evaluate the attitude towards the option of recertification. METHODS A questionnaire was completed at a meeting of the Swiss Societies of Rheumatology and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in 2003 (response rate 94.9% (223/23...

UNLABELLED Query- or probe-based situation awareness (SA) measures sometimes rely on process experts to evaluate operator actions and system states when used in representative settings. This introduces variability of human judgement into the measurements that require inter-rater reliability assessment. However, the literature neglects inter-rater reliability of query/probe-based SA measures. We...

AIMS To compare the quality of vision of patients with customised aspheric intraocular lenses (IOL) versus patients implanted with zero-aberration IOL after a 1.8 mm micro-incision cataract surgery (MICS). METHODS Fourty-three eyes were divided into two groups: 17 eyes (reference group) received zero aberration Acri.Smart 46LC and 26 eyes received a customised-aspheric IOL: either aspherical ...