29 research outputs found
Arabic Cooperative Answer Generation via Wikipedia Article Infoboxes
No full text[EN] The typical question-answering system is facing many challenges related
to the processing of questions and information resources in the extraction
and generation of adequate answers. These challenges increase when the requested
answer is cooperative and its language is Arabic. In this paper, we propose
an original approach to generate cooperative answers for user-definitional
questions designed to be integrated in a question-answering system. This approach
is mainly based on the exploitation of the semi-structured Web
knowledge which consists in using features derived from Wikipedia article infoboxes
to generate cooperative answers. It is globally independent of a particular
language, which gives it the ability to be integrated in any definitional question-answering
system. We have chosen to integrate and experiment it in a definitional
question-answering system dealing with the Arabic language entitled
DefArabicQA. The results showed that this system has a significant impact on
the approach efficiency regarding the improvement of the quality of the answer.The work of the third author was partially funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (MINECO) under the SomEMBED research project (TIN2015-71147-C2-1-P) and by the Generalitat Valenciana under the grant ALMAMATER (PrometeoII/2014/030).Trigui, O.; Belguith, L.; Rosso, P. (2017). Arabic Cooperative Answer Generation via Wikipedia Article Infoboxes. Research in Computing Science. 132:129-153. https://riunet.upv.es/handle/10251/103731S12915313
Health-care associated infections in the two university hospitals of southern Tunisia: a point prevalence survey : Health-care associated infections in Southern Tunisia
No full textIntroduction
Despite advances in the prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) in recent decades, this once-almost-usual adverse event remains relatively common and still has a definite impact on patients and public health. In light of this, this study aimed to determine the HAI prevalence, to describe their main specificities and to identify their associated factors, in Southern Tunisia.
Methods
We conducted a cross sectional study to assess HAI point prevalence in a two university hospitals in southern Tunisia. The study was started in February 20th to March 13th 2023.
Results
There were 1028 patients included in the survey and (47.3%) of them were women (n=486). The median age was 48 years (Interquartile Range (IQR)= [30-65]) years. We noted 86 HAI in the two establishments visited, with a global HAI prevalence of 8.4%. Multivariate analyses showed that independent factors of HAI were immune suppression (AOR=2.5; p=0.004), hospital stay duration≥6 (AOR=4.5; p<0.001), surgery 30 days prior to the study date (AOR=1.9; p=0.021), having central vascular catheter (AOR=2.44; p=0.032) and having intubation or endotracheal tube (AOR=3.5; p=0.002).
Conclusions
This study highlighted a relatively high prevalence of HAI in southern Tunisia. Therefore, urgent and ongoing corrective measures should be done, maintained and re-evaluated continuously in order to control HAI and promote care safety
A cross-cultural study on consumer preferences for olive oil
No full textIn this paper, we study consumer preferences for olive oil across four countries (Denmark, France, Tunisia, and the US). Based on a large-scale study with olive oil consumers (N = 3,462), we use the Best-Worst Scaling method to measure perceived importance for product attributes known to influence consumer choice. Our results show that consumers across all countries rate type, price, prior experience, and country of origin as important product attributes. On the other hand, packaging, label design, and brands are considered as less important product attributes. While the perceived importance for olive oil attributes differs across countries, the order of importance is almost similar for all countries. We further derive a three-segment solution and describe each segment based on its attitudinal beliefs, usage, and socio-demographic profile. We discuss implications for the study of consumer preferences for olive oil and provide managerial insights.© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed
Specifications and Design of a PM Electric Variable Transmission for Toyota Prius II
No full textThis paper focuses on an analysis of technical requirements for the design of a permanent magnet type electric variable transmission (PM-EVT), which is a novel series-parallel hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) powertrain concept. Similar to the planetary gear train used in the Toyota Prius II, the EVT also realizes the power split function. However, it is implemented in an electromagnetic way rather than in a mechanical way, as is the case for the Prius II with a planetary gear. In this paper, a procedure to define the technical requirements of an EVT is presented. Since the Toyota Prius II is a well-known series-parallel HEV, this vehicle is chosen as a reference. The engine, the battery and other necessary components are kept as input data. A dynamic simulation was performed in order to take into account different driving cycles. Then, based on an analysis of the simulation results (torque, speed and power) the technical requirements of the PM-EVT are defined. Finally, the PMEVT machine is designed. The PM-EVT design results are presented and validated using the finite element method. Author Keywords: Electric variable transmission , Permanent magnet machine , Planetary gear , Series-parallel HEV
Hospital-acquired Respiratory-Tract Infections in the Teaching Hospitals of Sfax
No full textHospital-acquired Respiratory-Tract Infections (HARTIs) are identified as the most frequent type of hospital-acquired infections. They can engender significant morbidity and mortality rates, generating a heavy economic burden, especially in the limited resources countries. In this perspective, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of HARTIs in the University Hospitals (UHs) of Southern Tunisia and to identify their main associated factors. It was a cross-sectional study conducted in the two UHs of Sfax governorate, Tunisia, from July 10 to 24th, 2017, including all hospitalized patients for at least 48 hours. It was a 1-day pass per department and a 1-week survey per UH. In total, 34 cases of HARTIs were notified among 752 surveyed patients, accounting for an overall prevalence of 4.5%. The prevalence of HARTIs in the Intensive Care Units (ICU) was 20.6%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that developing a HARTI in non-ICU was independently associated with tobacco use [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 2.83; 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) = [1.10.7.27]; p = 0.03], central vascular catheter (AOR = 5.70; 95% CI = [1.29.25.15]; p = 0.022) and McCabe Index ≥1 (AOR = 7.38; 95% CI = [2.73.19.97]; p < 0.001). In ICU, only endotracheal tube was independently associated with HARTIs (AOR = 42.5; 95% CI = [4.97.64.13]; p = 0.001). This study illustrated the extent of HARTIs problem threatening the quality of care in Southern Tunisia. Identifying the risk factors of HARTIs in both ICUs and non-ICUs may help healthcare workers to ascertain the avoidability of these infections
PHIL Implementation of Energy Management Optimization for a Parallel HEV on a Predefined Route
No full textReal-time energy management of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) is a key point for performing effective fuel economy optimization. Offline methods have been developed for energy management optimization when the drive cycle is known. Online real-time methods can provide good results but can only ensure suboptimal management. In this paper, it is assumed that information about the route is available in advance. Using this knowledge, global optimization methods can be used in real-time control to approach optimal fuel consumption while keeping the state of charge (Soc) of the batteries at a desired level. Such a method is presented in this paper. The developed strategy is implemented in a real-time experiment using the power-hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL) principle. The measured fuel consumption and the obtained battery Soc trajectory demonstrate good performance of the proposed control. Author Keywords: Energy management , fuel consumption , hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) , optimization , power hardware in the loop (PHIL)
Using CFD in engine design
No full textIn this thesis the author presents two areas of work; exploring the integration of Computational
Fluid Dynamics (CFD) into engine design for Jaguar Cars Ltd and developing a novel
'mesh construction' method for making mesh generation both easy and fast.
It is concluded that Jaguar can use CFD in the evaluation stage of the engine design process,
although not in the concept stage of design. The CFD predictions are shown to be useful for
detecting flow related faults and determining the general flow trends, but they should not be
used as an absolute measure of the flow variables. The author has determined an efficient
method for obtaining good quality meshes using commercial modelling and mesh generation
software which requires a skilled CFD analyst. Steady flow analysis of an engine port and
cylinder design could currently be completed in about six weeks using a high-powered workstation.
The author recommends dedicated workstations for CFD analysis and training Jaguar's
draughtsmen to create CAD models with computer analysis requirements in mind.
The author's mesh construction program automatically joins two overlapping meshes or cuts
one mesh from another. Whilst the program works well on the test cases considered, it is not
at a stage for commercial exploitation. Further development is therefore recommended
Prevalence, Chronological Trends and Predictors of Treatment Outcomes Among Patients with Tuberculosis in Southern Tunisia Across Two Decades (1995-2016)
No full textIntroduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease common worldwide. Influencing factors in TB outcomes include socio-demographics, as well as disease-related and treatment-related factors. This study aimed to analyze the prevalence trends of unsuccessful treatment outcomes in Southern Tunisia during 1995-2016 and to identify their risk factors. Methods: This was a retrospective study including all notified cases from the tuberculosis center reporting registers in Southern Tunisia between 1995 and 2016. Results: Overall, 2771 TB cases were notified. Unsuccessful treatment outcomes were noted in 196 cases (7%). Unsuccessful treatment outcome was associated with male gender (OR=1.4; p=0.023), elderly status (≥60 years, OR=2.3; p<0.001), joints and bones site (OR=2.2; p=0.002) as well as meningeal involvement (OR=2.4; p=0.023). Lymph node (OR=0.4; p<0.001) and therapy duration ≥6 months (OR=0.003; p<0.001) were statistically associated with lower rate of unsuccessful outcome. Multivariate regression analysis showed that elderly status (AOR=2.3; p<0.001), meningeal involvement (AOR=2.2; p<0.027) as well as bone and joints involvements (AOR=2; p=0.027) were independently associated with unsuccessful outcome. Trends analysis showed that the case-fatality rate significantly increased from 1995 to 2016 (Rho=0.4; p=0.032). Conclusions: The high prevalence of unsuccessful outcome suggested important inadequacies in the TB program. An effective strategy to improve therapeutic education of patients with TB is therefore urgently needed
