Abstract: The prevalence of non organic constipation differs
from country to country and the reliability of the estimate rates is
uncertain. Moreover, the clinical relevance of subdividing the
heterogeneous functional constipation disorders into pre-defined
subgroups is largely unknown.. Aim: to estimate the prevalence of
constipation in a population-based sample and determine whether
clinical subgroups can be identified. An age and gender stratified
sample population from 5 Italian cities was evaluated using a
previously validated questionnaire. Data mining by cluster analysis
was used to determine constipation subgroups. Results: 1,500
complete interviews were obtained from 2,083 contacted households
(72%). Self-reported constipation correlated poorly with symptombased
constipation found in 496 subjects (33.1%). Cluster analysis
identified four constipation subgroups which correlated to subgroups
identified according to pre-defined symptom criteria. Significant
differences in socio-demographics and lifestyle were observed
among subgroups.
Abstract: The concentrations of As, Hg, Co, Cr and Cd were
tested for each soil sample, and their spatial patterns were analyzed
by the semivariogram approach of geostatistics and geographical
information system technology. Multivariate statistic approaches
(principal component analysis and cluster analysis) were used to
identify heavy metal sources and their spatial pattern. Principal
component analysis coupled with correlation between heavy metals
showed that primary inputs of As, Hg and Cd were due to
anthropogenic while, Co, and Cr were associated with pedogenic
factors. Ordinary kriging was carried out to map the spatial patters of
heavy metals. The high pollution sources evaluated was related with
usage of urban and industrial wastewater. The results of this study
helpful for risk assessment of environmental pollution for decision
making for industrial adjustment and remedy soil pollution.
Abstract: A 7-step method (with 25 sub-steps) to assess risk of
air pollutants is introduced. These steps are: pre-considerations,
sampling, statistical analysis, exposure matrix and likelihood, doseresponse
matrix and likelihood, total risk evaluation, and discussion
of findings. All mentioned words and expressions are wellunderstood;
however, almost all steps have been modified, improved,
and coupled in such a way that a comprehensive method has been
prepared. Accordingly, the SADRA (Statistical Analysis-Driven Risk
Assessment) emphasizes extensive and ongoing application of
analytical statistics in traditional risk assessment models. A Sulfur
Dioxide case study validates the claim and provides a good
illustration for this method.
Abstract: Complex statistical analysis of stresses in concrete
slab of the real type of rigid pavement is performed. The
computational model of the pavement is designed as a spatial (3D) model, is based on a nonlinear variant of the finite element method
that respects the structural nonlinearity, enables to model different arrangement of joints, and the entire model can be loaded by the
thermal load. Interaction of adjacent slabs in joints and contact of the slab and the subsequent layer are modeled with help of special
contact elements. Four concrete slabs separated by transverse and
longitudinal joints and the additional subgrade layers and soil to the depth of about 3m are modeled. The thickness of individual layers,
physical and mechanical properties of materials, characteristics of
joints, and the temperature of the upper and lower surface of slabs are supposed to be random variables. The modern simulation technique
Updated Latin Hypercube Sampling with 20 simulations is used for statistical analysis. As results, the estimates of basic statistics of the
principal stresses s1 and s3 in 53 points on the upper and lower surface of the slabs are obtained.
Abstract: Robots- visual perception is a field that is gaining
increasing attention from researchers. This is partly due to emerging
trends in the commercial availability of 3D scanning systems or
devices that produce a high information accuracy level for a variety of
applications. In the history of mining, the mortality rate of mine workers
has been alarming and robots exhibit a great deal of potentials to
tackle safety issues in mines. However, an effective vision system
is crucial to safe autonomous navigation in underground terrains.
This work investigates robots- perception in underground terrains
(mines and tunnels) using statistical region merging (SRM) model.
SRM reconstructs the main structural components of an imagery
by a simple but effective statistical analysis. An investigation is
conducted on different regions of the mine, such as the shaft, stope
and gallery, using publicly available mine frames, with a stream of
locally captured mine images. An investigation is also conducted on a
stream of underground tunnel image frames, using the XBOX Kinect
3D sensors. The Kinect sensors produce streams of red, green and
blue (RGB) and depth images of 640 x 480 resolution at 30 frames per
second. Integrating the depth information to drivability gives a strong
cue to the analysis, which detects 3D results augmenting drivable and
non-drivable regions in 2D. The results of the 2D and 3D experiment
with different terrains, mines and tunnels, together with the qualitative
and quantitative evaluation, reveal that a good drivable region can be
detected in dynamic underground terrains.
Abstract: The aim of the study was to identify seat belt wearing
factor among road users in Malaysia. Evidence-based approach
through in-depth crash investigation was utilised to determine the
intended objectives. The objective was scoped into crashes
investigated by Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research
(MIROS) involving passenger vehicles within 2007 and 2010. Crash
information of a total of 99 crash cases involving 240 vehicles and
864 occupants were obtained during the study period. Statistical test
and logistic regression analysis have been performed. Results of the
analysis revealed that gender, seat position and age were associated
with seat belt wearing compliance in Malaysia. Males are 97.6%
more likely to wear seat belt compared to females (95% CI 1.317 to
2.964). By seat position, the finding indicates that frontal occupants
were 82 times more likely to be wearing seat belt (95% CI 30.199 to
225.342) as compared to rear occupants. It is also important to note
that the odds of seat belt wearing increased by about 2.64% (95% CI
1.0176 to 1.0353) for every one year increase in age. This study is
essential in understanding the Malaysian tendency in belting up
while being occupied in a vehicle. The factors highlighted in this
study should be emphasized in road safety education in order to
increase seat belt wearing rate in this country and ultimately in
preventing deaths due to road crashes.
Abstract: Background: This investigated the mental health of the elderly survivors six months, ten months and two years after the “5.12 Wenchuan" earthquake. Methods: Two hundred and thirty-two physically healthy older survivors from earthquake-affected Mianyang County were interviewed. The measures included the Revised Impact of Event Scale (IES-R, Chinese version, for PTSD) and a Chinese Mental Health Inventory for the Elderly (MHIE). A repeated measures ANOVA test was used for statistical analysis. Results: The follow-up group had a statistically significant lower IES-R score and lower MHIE score than the initial group ten months after the earthquake. Two years later, the score of IES-R in follow-up group were still lower than that of non-follow-up group, but no differences were significant on the score of MHIE between groups. Furthermore, a negative relationship was found between scores of IES-R and MHIE. Conclusion: The earthquake has had a persistent negative impact on older survivors- mental health within the two-year period and that although the PTSD level declined significantly with time, it did not disappear completely.