Abstract Recently a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) optical sensor, based on the Otto configuration — the Otto chip — has been developed. One essential step in the quality control of the fabrication process is characterization of the active region of several devices in a batch. Characterization is done by measuring the angular spectrum of the optical re ectance on several points across the active region of the device, and determining parameters by regression analysis of the data. Traditional gradient methods used in the regression process are extremely dependent on an initial guess and are not very efficient for batch analysis of curves, when those include poorly defined SPR spectra, where an initial guess may be hard to infer. An alternative approach for the regression problem is to model the analysis as an optimization problem and using an efficient stochastic algorithm. In this paper one discusses the use of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) for characterization of Otto chip devices. From comparative studies carried out in an existing Otto chip, it is observed that PSO can be a very efficient approach for batch analysis and yields better results when compared with the traditional gradient-based regression method.

Resumo O estudo avalia a qualidade do SIM e do SINASC nos aspectos cobertura, incompletitude e consistência, bem como a contribuição do “linkage” para a recuperação de dados. Foram analisados nascimentos e óbitos de menores de um ano ocorridos no Rio Grande do Sul entre 2000 e 2014. Os registros foram pareados por “linkage” determinístico através do número da DNV e, na ausência deste, por “linkage” probabilístico. A cobertura do SINASC aumentou 37%, passando de 72,2% em 2000 para 98,9%. O grau de incompletitude do SINASC foi excelente para todas as variáveis, exceto quantidade de filhos mortos e ocupação materna. No SIM, até 2003 a maioria das variáveis apresentou preenchimento ruim ou muito ruim. Apesar da melhoria, seis delas ainda possuíam preenchimento regular ou ruim em 2014. Após o “linkage”, a incompletitude reduziu-se para grande parte das variáveis. Houve alta variabilidade quanto à consistência: sexo apresentou percentual superior a 97% em todo período, enquanto para outras cinco variáveis essa fração segue inferior a 75% em 2014. Destaca-se a alta cobertura e a excelente incompletitude do SINASC. Persistem problemas relacionados à consistência de informações. Evidencia-se a relevância do “linkage” como método para recuperar informações.

Abstract This study assesses the quality of the SIM and SINASC information systems in coverage, incompleteness and consistency aspects, as well as the contribution of the linkage for data retrieval. It includes all live births and infant deaths in Rio Grande do Sul from 2000 to 2014. The records were paired by deterministic linkage through the DNV number and, in its absence, by probabilistic linkage. SINASC’s coverage rose from 72.2% in 2000 to 98.9%, namely a 37% increase in the number of matched records. All variables in SINASC presented excellent incompleteness throughout the period, except for the number of dead children and maternal occupation. SIM presented poor or very poor incompleteness for most of the variables until 2003. Although it improved, in 2014, six variables still presented regular or poor incompleteness. The linkage procedure greatly reduced the incompleteness for most variables. There was a great variability in terms of consistency: while for gender this percentage was over 97% throughout the period, for another five variables it was still less than 75% in 2014. SINASC presented high coverage level and excellent incompleteness. Problems related to consistency persist. This study shows the linkage technic efficiency to retrieve missing information.

Resumo O estudo avalia a qualidade do SIM e do SINASC nos aspectos cobertura, incompletitude e consistência, bem como a contribuição do “linkage” para a recuperação de dados. Foram analisados nascimentos e óbitos de menores de um ano ocorridos no Rio Grande do Sul entre 2000 e 2014. Os registros foram pareados por “linkage” determinístico através do número da DNV e, na ausência deste, por “linkage” probabilístico. A cobertura do SINASC aumentou 37%, passando de 72,2% em 2000 para 98,9%. O grau de incompletitude do SINASC foi excelente para todas as variáveis, exceto quantidade de filhos mortos e ocupação materna. No SIM, até 2003 a maioria das variáveis apresentou preenchimento ruim ou muito ruim. Apesar da melhoria, seis delas ainda possuíam preenchimento regular ou ruim em 2014. Após o “linkage”, a incompletitude reduziu-se para grande parte das variáveis. Houve alta variabilidade quanto à consistência: sexo apresentou percentual superior a 97% em todo período, enquanto para outras cinco variáveis essa fração segue inferior a 75% em 2014. Destaca-se a alta cobertura e a excelente incompletitude do SINASC. Persistem problemas relacionados à consistência de informações. Evidencia-se a relevância do “linkage” como método para recuperar informações.

Abstract This study assesses the quality of the SIM and SINASC information systems in coverage, incompleteness and consistency aspects, as well as the contribution of the linkage for data retrieval. It includes all live births and infant deaths in Rio Grande do Sul from 2000 to 2014. The records were paired by deterministic linkage through the DNV number and, in its absence, by probabilistic linkage. SINASC’s coverage rose from 72.2% in 2000 to 98.9%, namely a 37% increase in the number of matched records. All variables in SINASC presented excellent incompleteness throughout the period, except for the number of dead children and maternal occupation. SIM presented poor or very poor incompleteness for most of the variables until 2003. Although it improved, in 2014, six variables still presented regular or poor incompleteness. The linkage procedure greatly reduced the incompleteness for most variables. There was a great variability in terms of consistency: while for gender this percentage was over 97% throughout the period, for another five variables it was still less than 75% in 2014. SINASC presented high coverage level and excellent incompleteness. Problems related to consistency persist. This study shows the linkage technic efficiency to retrieve missing information.