Bar Diagrams Research Articles

Assessment of educational intervention on biomedical waste management among Government Nursing College students, Bengaluru

Background: The World Health Organization states that only 20% medical waste is hazardous—toxic, infectious, or radioactive. The Gazette of India has specific details about segregation and disposal of biomedical waste. Among the health-care workers, it is the nurses who deal with the patients for most part of their hospital stay and thus are the closest to dealing with most of the biomedical waste generated. Good training in the nursing college days would lead to responsible handling, segregation, and disposal of this waste. This will indeed go a long way in curbing spread of disease and also occupational hazards among the subsequent handlers of this waste. Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice toward handling of biomedical waste among nursing students, before and after an educational intervention. Materials and Methods: An interventional study conducted at Government Nursing College, Bengaluru. Among first-, second-, and third-year nursing students, 154 were assessed using an indigenous pretested questionnaire. Data were collected before and after 4 weeks of the intervention. Statistical analysis was carried out as frequency distribution in the form of percentage tables and bar diagrams. Result: Knowledge improved in all years, from 22.3% in first year, 17.5% in second year to 7.8% in third year. Pretest average score was 18.942 and the posttest average score improved to 19.695. There was improvement in practice ranging from 34.7%, 19.7%, to 8.8% in first, second, and third years of nursing, respectively. Conclusion: Knowledge, attitude, and practice have improved postintervention—given in the form of health education.

A Quasi Experimental Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Exhibition on Knowledge regarding Pregnancy Induced Hypertension among Antenatal Mothers attending Antenatal Outpatient Department of Selected Hospitals, Jalandhar, Punjab

Pregnancy is a time of great anticipation. Hypertension is one of the common complications and contributes significantly to perinatal mortality and morbidity. Hypertension is a sign of underlying pathology which may be pre-existing or appear for the first time during pregnancy. The identification of clinical entity and effective management plays a significant role in the outcome of pregnancy, both for the mother and the baby. The main aim of the study was to enhance the knowledge regarding pregnancy induced hypertension among antenatal mothers through exhibition in order to improve maternal and fetal outcome. For this study Quasi-experimental research design was used. The study was conducted on conveniently selected 60 samples of antenatal mothers attending antenatal outpatient department of selected hospitals, Jalandhar, Punjab. Data was collected by Sociodemographic variables and Self Structured Knowledge Questionnaire. Collected data was analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. Tables and Bar diagrams were used to depict the findings. The pretest mean knowledge score in control group and experimental group was 16.33, 16.20 respectively and where as the post test mean knowledge score in control group and experimental group was 16.46, 26.03 respectively. The difference of pretest posttest mean knowledge score of antenatal mothers in control group was statistically not significant whereas it was statistically significant in experimental group. The tcal 0.1442 ttab 1.96. So the difference of post-test mean knowledge score of experimental group was statistically significant at p<0.05 level. Thus, it indicated that Exhibition had significant impact on knowledge regarding pregnancy induced hypertension among antenatal mothers in experimental group. In this study posttest knowledge score was not associated with any socio-demographic variables.

A Quasi Experimental Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Structured Teaching Programme on Knowledge Regarding Postnatal Complications among High Risk Antenatal Mothers attending Antenatal Outpatient Department at Selected Hospitals of Jalandhar, Punjab

Pregnancy is a normal physiological process and not a disease. High risk pregnancy is a condition that may be present before and in pregnancy. Specific factors that might contribute to a high risk pregnancy include advanced maternal age, anemia, lifestyle choices, gestational diabetes, antepartum haemorrhage and hypertension that leads to postnatal complications-hemorrhage, puerperal sepsis, Perineal injuries and eclampsia. The main aim of the study was to enhance the knowledge regarding postnatal complications among high risk antenatal mothers by providing structured teaching programme in order to improve the maternal health. For this study Quasi Experimental research design was used. The study was conducted on purposively selected 60 high risk antenatal mothers attending antenatal outpatient department at selected hospitals of Jalandhar, Punjab. Data was collected by Socio-demographic variables and Structured Knowledge Interview Schedule. Collected data was analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. Tables and Bar diagrams were used to depict the findings. The pretest mean knowledge score in control group and experimental group was 16.8 and 16.93 respectively whereas the posttest mean knowledge score in control group and experimental group was 16.53 and 23.17 respectively. The difference of pretest posttest mean knowledge score of high risk antenatal mothers in control group was nonsignificant whereas it was statistically significant in experimental group. The tcal 0.2407 < ttab 1.96 in control group whereas in experimental group tcal 5.8433 < ttab 1.96. So the difference of posttest mean knowledge score of experimental group was statistically significant at p < 0.05 level. Thus, it indicated that structured teaching programme had significant impact on knowledge regarding postnatal complications among high risk antenatal mothers in experimental group. In this study association between posttest knowledge regarding postnatal complications among high risk antenatal mothers in experimental group with occupation.

Effectiveness of the Structured Teaching Programme on Knowledge Regarding Cervical Cancer among Women: a Quasi Experimental Study

The aim of the study is to strengthen the knowledge regarding cervical cancer among women of selected Rural areas of district Jalandhar by Structured Teaching Programme. Quasi experimental design was utilized in the study. The study was conducted on 100 women of selected villages i.e. Salempur Masandha and Jamesher Khas of district Jalandhar, Punjab. Sample was selected through convenience sampling technique. Data was collected by Self Structured knowledge questionnaire regarding cervical cancer. Descriptive and inferential statistics used to analyze the findings. The findings were depicted in the form of Tables and Bar diagrams. The pre test mean knowledge score of control group and experimental group was 7.78 and 8.08 respectively where as the post test mean knowledge score of control group and experimental group 9.94 and 14.94 respectively. The difference of pre test and post test mean knowledge score of women in experimental group was statistically significant whereas it is non-significant in control group. Hence it was concluded that structured teaching programme had significant impact on knowledge of women regarding cervical cancer. Public teaching to be promoted in irrespective of urban and rural areas in order to reduce the prevalence of cervical cancer and decrease the financial burden on treatment of cervical cancer.

A diagnostic system to assess sustainability at a farm level: The SOSTARE model

The paper presents a model for integrated sustainability assessment at a farm scale. The SOSTARE model (analysis of farm technical efficiency and impacts on environmental and economic sustainability), in fact, aims at providing a diagnostic tool to farmers and advisory services to assess the general performance of the farm, explore in detail any perceived weaknesses in farm management and to investigate the impact of changes that might improve efficiency. The model is derived from a survey of 68 farms. The sampled farms have been selected in order to represent the panorama of farm typologies that are characteristic of the agriculture in one of the most intensively cultivated areas of Europe, the Po plain in Northern Italy, and include multi-functional and non-multi-functional farms, low-input and conventional management typologies, subdivided into production of rice, cereals, and livestock (meat and milk). The SOSTARE model is based on a set of indicators, which are aggregated in a stepwise fashion to provide the user with an immediate valuation of a farm's performance. The aggregation framework was structured on the following steps: statistical analysis of all the collected input data and indicators to identify relevant variables and reduce redundancy; identification of the range of variation of the selected basic indicators and normalisation; definition of weights through statistical analysis and expert judgement, aggregation. The result is a synthetic indicator for each of the three analysed aspects of sustainability (economic, agronomic and ecological), which are decomposed into a total of twelve sub-dimensions. These include: fertilisers, water and agrochemical management; cropping system; energy input; value of production; value added; farm household income; CAP independence; farm business diversification; natural value of the farm and functional landscape pattern. In practical terms the output of the model is provided to the user as original indicator values in the form of tables, bar diagrams corresponding to each aggregation step and a radar diagram representing the overall farm performance in the twelve sub-dimensions. Furthermore, results can be related either to the optimal performance or to a reference situation (i.e. the average of the farm typology, the average of all farms). Results show that the model is able to react to different types of farm management that were studied in the reference sample of farms and that weaknesses of farm performances can be clearly identified. Moreover, its application over time would provide information that could be used to assess and monitor policy performances at a regional level.

The web-oriented framework of the world geothermal production database: A business intelligence platform for wide data distribution and analysis

The Global Geothermal Energy Database of the International Geothermal Association (IGA) is an internet-based platform providing access to the world geothermal production data. This platform is unique for the geothermal sector, and provides an excellent tool for showing geothermal use in the world and promoting the development of geothermal energy. The platform is also an important example of organization and access to widely distributed data, since it allows analyzing, synthetizing and quickly interpreting stored data.The global and country-specific information regard both electricity generation and direct use applications. The platform, which has been built using an open-source Business Intelligence application and can be accessed through the IGA website, allows to access, navigate and organize information in various ways. Data lists related to geothermal fields and plants, direct uses, geothermal turbine manufactures and geothermal companies can be accessed, aggregated and filtered, producing reports, charts and maps. Aggregation and filtering options synthetize and organize data for direct use, power plants and installed capacity by region, category and operative status. The mapping tool, providing geothermal fields location, power plants and direct uses geographical references, allows also map browsing, and to zoom, to measure distance, to pan and to query for further information. The chart analysis produces pie charts and bar diagrams of data, dynamically sorted and aggregated.

Inter-State Income Inequality in India

Inequality is a problem which intensifies the plight of the poor people. The persistence of inequality prevents equal sharing of the benefits out of development processes. On many occasions, inequality rises with the increase in growth rate of the economies. Indian economy has witnessed this phenomenon in the post reform periods. There exists considerable income inequality across Indian states. This paper tries to examine the inter-state income inequality in India on the basis of NSSO data and IHDS data. It uses descriptive statistics like mean, median, standard deviation, range, quartiles, percentiles, graphs, and column and bar diagrams to analyse the concerned data. We find that income inequality has been increasing with time. Urban income inequality is dominating rural income inequality. Inter-state variation in income is significantly present in terms of the values of Gini Coefficients and median household income. There exists no definite mechanism to keep the state at the same rank in terms of inequality in subsequent periods. For this reason, in different rounds of survey the relative position of the states in terms of inequality changed. Rural-urban gap in terms of income inequality also does not follow any definite pattern.

Critical Challenges for Adopting Personalized Medicine System in Healthcare Management

Personalized Medicine is an emerging approach in today's healthcare management. It bears a very strong potential to consolidate modern e-health systems fundamentally. Scientists have already discovered some of the personalized drugs that can shift the whole medicare process into a new dimension. However, bringing the change in healthcare management is an easy task. There are several critical challenges in the implementation of Personalized Medicine systems. This paper aims at identifying some of these critical challenges through a survey with medical doctors and patients. Challenges involved in implementing Personalized Medicine are listed. A questionnaire was distributed amongst a set of medical doctors, medical researchers, practitioners in pharmaceutical industries, regulatory board members, and a larger section of patients. The response data collected thereby were analysed statistically by using t-test. Summary of the descriptive statistical results of the responses received from medical doctors and patients are presented in tabular form. Based upon the statistical analysis, an attempt has been made in the paper to make a ranking of the challenges. A comparison of the perspectives of the doctors and patients has been made by using bar diagrams. The observations have been discussed in detail and some specific conclusions have been made. To the best of the author's knowledge and belief, this is the first academic paper in which an attempt has been made to suggest the crucial challenges for the implementation of Personalized Medicine. The study shows that both the medical doctors and patients perceive that genomic analysis of all the individuals is the most critical challenge.

Investigating the Relationship between the Leadership Strategy Aspects and Productivity

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the leadership strategy aspects and the manpower productivity among the Sports and Youth Organization’s employers of Hamedan Province. In this research, all of the managers and employers of the Sports and Youth Organization’s employers of Hamedan Province are considered as the statistical population among which 29 of managers and 103 of managers and employers were selected as the statistical sample. For sample selection the random sampling was used. The research methodology is descriptive-survey. The instrument of the study was a researcher-made questionnaire which its first part composed of 16 questions relevant to the leadership strategy and was answered only by managers and the second part composed of 29 questions of fivechoice-Likert scale for manpower productivity and answered by managers and employers. Data analysis was done using SPSS 19.00 software. For data description the descriptive statistics, frequency tables, percentages and bar diagrams, and for deductive statistics at end Spearman’s correlational coefficient and Kolmogorov-Smirnov’ test were used. Regarding the results of the study, it is concluded that there is a relationship between the absolute leadership strategy and manpower efficiency, and there is an inverse relationship between benevolent absolute leadership and manpower efficiency. There is a relationship between the absolute leadership strategy and manpower efficiency, and also between the democratic leadership strategy and manpower efficiency.

Investigating the Relationship between the Leadership Style and Productivity in the Central Organization of Sports and Youth Organization and Its Affiliated Organizations in Hamedan Province

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the leadership style aspects and the manpower productivity among the Sports and Youth Organization’s staff of Hamedan Province. In this research, all of the managers and staff of the Sports and Youth Organization’s employers of Hamedan Province are considered as the statistical population among which 29 of managers and 103 of managers and staff were selected as the statistical sample. For sample selection the random sampling was used. The research methodology is descriptive-survey. The instrument of the study was a researcher-made questionnaire which its first part composed of 16 questions relevant to the leadership style and was answered only by managers and the second part composed of 29 questions of five-choice-Likert scale for manpower productivity and answered by managers and staff. Data analysis was done using SPSS 19.00 software. For data description the descriptive statistics, frequency tables, percentages and bar diagrams, and for deductive statistics at end Spearman’s correlational coefficient and Kolmogorov-Smirnov’ test were used. Regarding the research results it was concluded that with the certainty of 95% there is a significant relationship between the leadership style and manpower productivity.

Metabolic alterations due to IDH1 mutation in glioma: opening for therapeutic opportunities?

Recently heterozygous mutations in the active site of the enzyme isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) were discovered in glioblastomas [1]. In cohorts of glioma patients the IDH1 mutation appeared to be a strong predictor of clinical outcome, overruling histological malignancy grade [2]. IDH1 is an enzyme of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and is located in the cytosol, where it produces NADPH by transforming isocitrate into α-ketoglutarate. Because the mutant enzyme displays neomorphic activity through NADPH-dependent transformation of α-ketoglutarate into 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG), the tumorigenic role of the increased levels of 2HG has become a target of speculation [3]. IDH1 mutation alters the cellular metabolism and epigenetic phenotype influencing cellular proliferation. IDH1 mutation infers increased levels of D2HGDH leading to the inhibition of DNA and histone demethylating enzymes, resulting in the glioma-CpG island phenotype [4]. Altered concentrations of pyruvate kinase M2 play also a role in histone modifications which are associated with the transcription of the proliferation-related cyclin D1 and c-MYC [5]. In addition, IDH1 mutant cells show alterations in glutamine, fatty acid and citrate synthesis pathways, which all may have their influence on cellular proliferation [5]. The changes in IDH1 function affect the glucose metabolism, which may explain the different biological behaviour of tumors with and without the IDH1 mutation [6]. In order to detect these changes, we compared the expression levels of the genes participating in the TCA cycle and in the anaerobic glycolysis in 33 IDH1 mutated samples (3 astrocytomas WHO grade II; 6 astrocytomas WHO grade III; 4 glioblastomas; 9 oligodendrogliomas WHO grade II; 11 oligodendrogliomas WHO grade III) and in 39 IDH1 wild-type glioma samples (10 astrocytomas WHO grade III; 26 glioblastomas; 1 oligodendroglioma WHO grade II; 2 oligodendroglioma WHO grade III) and in four samples of normal brain (Table 1). We found expressional differences of 16/24 genes (Figure 1). The IDH1 mutated cells seem to compensate for the low production of α-ketoglutarate by overexpressing D2HGDH and L2HGDH in the cytoplasm. They also overexpress GLUD1, which converts glutamate to α-ketoglutarate inside the mitochondria. In addition, we found that IDH1 mutated cells overexpress HIF1AN. The HIF1AN gene inhibits HIF1α. Since HIF1α acts as an oxygen sensor that promotes angiogenesis, the formation of dysfunctional tumor vasculature is counteracted in IDH1 mutated cells. Furthermore, the IDH1 mutated cells overexpress the LDHB gene while cells without IDH1 mutation overexpress the LDHA gene. The present results illustrate that tumor cells without IDH1 mutation switch their energy production from a low rate of glycolysis followed by the TCA cycle to a high rate of glycolysis followed by aerobic glycolysis (LDHA up-regulation; Figure 1). The resulting lactate acid production causes tissue acidosis known as the Warburg effect. In invasive cancers, the pH of the extracellular space increases the infiltrative potential of the tumor cells [7]. In addition, normalization of the extracellular pH by alterations of the enzymatic actions of LDHA and LDHB influences the progression of cancer cells [8,9]. It may well be that glial tumor cells with IDH1 mutation tend to correct their energy production through the TCA cycle by overexpressing LDHB (Figure 1). By doing so, they normalize the tissue pH which offers yet another explanation for the less aggressive biological behavior of the IDH1 mutated gliomas. Table 1 Percentages of glioma types and grades Figure 1 Overview of alterations in glucose metabolism in the IDH1 mutated and IDH1 wild-type gliomas relative to glucose metabolism in normal brain. The enzymes included in the analysis are shown in black. The bar diagrams show the averaged expressional levels ... We conclude that gliomas with IDH1 mutation normalize their glucose metabolism, which appears to result in a slower tumor progression. Depending on the IDH1 status of the tumor, specific interference with the glucose metabolism and aerobic glycolysis should therefore be considered for future therapeutic strategies.

A Retrospective Study to Audit Nursing Documentation of Psychiatric Patients of Selected Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab

Retrospective Study to Audit Nursing Documentation of Psychiatric Patients of Selected Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nursing documentation through auditing with a view to prepare nursing documentation protocol. Objectives of the study were to audit nursing documentation of psychiatric patients’ bed side charts, to ascertain nursing documentation in relation to the variables like: duration of hospitalization, years of nursing documentation records and to prepare nursing documentation protocol. The present study was conducted to audit nursing documentation of psychiatric patients’ bed side charts. The area selected for the study was medical record office of Christian Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab. Retrospective approach was used in the study. Sample was selected using random sampling technique, time spent to audit each psychiatric patients’ bed side charts was of 15–20 min. Structured nursing documentation audit tool was used to collect required data. Reliability was 0.79. Try-out was conducted on four psychiatric patients’ bed side charts to find out the wording and clarity of the research tool. Pilot study was conducted on 20 psychiatric patients’ bed side charts to check the feasibility and practicability of the study. Final study was carried out on 200 psychiatric patients’ bed side charts in the month of December,2010-January,2011. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to analyse the data. Bar diagrams and pie charts were used to depict the findings. On the basis of mean score most deficit area of nursing documentation was treatment sheet and least deficit area was vital signs chart of psychiatric patients. Relationship of nursing documentation with duration of hospitalization and year of nursing documentation were not found statistically significant. Findings revealed that nursing documentation of psychiatric patients’ bed side charts need improvement and protocol for nursing documentation need to be administered.

Losing the Landline Market: A Critical Analysis of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL)

Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) covers the 96% of fixed local lines subscribers. It acts like a monopoly in the landline market but facing the sluggish growth in last eight years. We analysed the major causes of this back-through in this era of modern telecommunication and technology. We used primary data collected via well-structured questionnaire from subscriber of PTCL landline. They revealed that the major determinants of slow down are introduction of smart mobile phones, innovative offerings and promotions and customer’s facilitations service centres response. The validity of argument is tested with the help descriptive as well statistical techniques. Bar diagrams and Chi-Squares supports the argument validity. Introductions of smart mobile phones greatly exaggerated the declining trend in fixed line subscribers. Innovative offerings and promotions has nonentity significance except DSL facility to landline subscriber. Customer facilitations centre response is too poor and act as a major retarding factor for growth of PTCL fixed line subscriber. On average minimum 3 days are required to remove the technical fault faced to fixed line subscriber. The study suggests that the firm may focus on providing services in adjoining areas of cities, introduce smart mobile phone wireless connections, offering competitive and economic bundles to landline users, innovative and quality after sale services to his landline subscribers to recap the market.

Longer bars for bigger numbers? children’s usage and understanding of graphical representations of algebraic problems

In Singapore, primary school students are taught to use bar diagrams to represent known and unknown values in algebraic word problems. However, little is known about students’ understanding of these graphical representations. We investigated whether students use and think of the bar diagrams in a concrete or a more abstract fashion. We also examined whether usage and understanding varied with grade. Secondary 2 (N = 68, Mage = 13.9 years) and Primary 5 students (N = 110, Mage = 11.1 years) were administered a production task in which they drew bar diagrams of algebraic word problems with operands of varying magnitude. In the validation task, they were presented with different bar diagrams for the same word problems and were asked to ascertain, and give explanations regarding the accuracy of the diagrams. The Kuchemann algebra test was administered to the Secondary 2 students. Students from both grades drew longer bars to represent larger numbers. In contrast, findings from the validation task showed a more abstract appreciation for how the bar diagrams can be used. Primary 5 students who showed more abstract appreciations in the validation task were less likely to use the bar diagrams in a concrete fashion in the production task. Performance on the Kuchemann algebra test was unrelated to performance on the production task or the validation task. The findings are discussed in terms of a production deficit, with students exhibiting a more sophisticated understanding of bar diagrams than is demonstrated by their usage.

An Effective Evaluation of Software Development Models Amalgamation

In the ever changing software development environment, the software developer faces many challenges. It is highly advantageous to synergize various models in order to optimize software development. The feasibility of combining project characteristics of different models will enable better outcomes. To measure project characteristics of compatible models, values are assigned to characteristics. The values are represented in bar diagrams. The interpretation of suggested combination of models made through bar diagrams is proved using Operations Research.

Information Channels Stimulating Buying Behavior of Working Women in GOA

Identification of Problem: Through the Literature review carried out in the understanding of this topic, it was clear that a concrete study might have been carried out in US but such a study is not carried out recently in India. How far the US study is applicable to the Indian marketplace is what I have studied with special reference to Goan Working Women targeting the Goan market. Importance of the Study: For most companies today, women and their varied buying behaviors are the market that can effectively make or break their brand. Given the experience in a large, traditionally male – focused industry, we should encourage other companies to include the women’s angle in their existing objectives, rather than adding a separate business unit to market to women. Understanding the various information sources (TV, print, internet) which influence working women’s buying behavior will in turn help various organizations to study their niche markets more closely and ultimately lead to the generation of more sales and profitability. Concept: Definition of Working Women: A woman whether single or married, but is working full-time and is having the capacity to earn her living by way of salary or by way of income from business.Objectives of the Study:- To analyze the information channels which stimulate the buying behavior of working women with special reference to:- Television, Print & Internet Advertisement- To study the influence of reference groups(Family and peer group) on working women.Research Methodology Universe and Sample of the Study: The universe size is approximately around 1,50,000. The target population comprised of working women from the segments of education, banking, nursing, corporate from the salcete area of state Goa and the study was conducted before the recession in 2007. The above main segments have been considered for the study on the basis of feasibility, availability and willingness of the respondents.Data was collected from 109 respondents and were analyzed using a structured questionnaire tool of open and closed ended questions to find out the information sources which stimulate women buying behavior and the responses were measured using Dichotomous, multiple choice, Likert scale, Importance scale, rating scale, intension to buy scale. The consumer survey was based on random sampling. The Secondary data used for the study is Magazines, Internet websites, Journals and publication and other related books.Statistical Tools Applied:1. Nominal by Nominal Chi-Square Test for Cross Tabulation & Contingency Coefficient2. Ordinal by Ordinal Cross Tabulation using Symmetric and Directional Measures3. One-Way ANOVA4. Tabulation, Graphical Presentation – Pie-Chart, Bar Diagrams

Modelling the Velocity Field in a Regular Grid in the Area of Poland on the Basis of the Velocities of European Permanent Stations

The paper presents the results of testing the various methods of permanent stations’ velocity residua interpolation in a regular grid, which constitutes a continuous model of the velocity field in the territory of Poland. Three packages of software were used in the research from the point of view of interpolation: GMT (The Generic Mapping Tools), Surfer and ArcGIS. The following methods were tested in the softwares: the Nearest Neighbor, Triangulation (TIN), Spline Interpolation, Surface, Inverse Distance to a Power, Minimum Curvature and Kriging. The presented research used the absolute velocities’ values expressed in the ITRF2005 reference frame and the intraplate velocities related to the NUVEL model of over 300 permanent reference stations of the EPN and ASG-EUPOS networks covering the area of Europe. Interpolation for the area of Poland was done using data from the whole area of Europe to make the results at the borders of the interpolation area reliable. As a result of this research, an optimum method of such data interpolation was developed. All the mentioned methods were tested for being local or global, for the possibility to compute errors of the interpolated values, for explicitness and fidelity of the interpolation functions or the smoothing mode. In the authors’ opinion, the best data interpolation method is Kriging with the linear semivariogram model run in the Surfer programme because it allows for the computation of errors in the interpolated values and it is a global method (it distorts the results in the least way). Alternately, it is acceptable to use the Minimum Curvature method. Empirical analysis of the interpolation results obtained by means of the two methods showed that the results are identical. The tests were conducted using the intraplate velocities of the European sites. Statistics in the form of computing the minimum, maximum and mean values of the interpolated North and East components of the velocity residuum were prepared for all the tested methods, and each of the resulting continuous velocity fields was visualized by means of the GMT programme. The interpolated components of the velocities and their residua are presented in the form of tables and bar diagrams.

Методика морфометричного аналізу рельєфу басейнових систем гірських територій засобами ГІС-технологій (на прикладі басейну р. Прут у межах Чорногори)

In the article is given the methods of fulfillment consecutive stages of the relief morphometric analysis of basinal systems' within mountain territories using software package ESRI ArcGIS Desktop 9.3 (case study of the Chornogora's part of Prut's basin). The results of fulfillment this algorithm is developed digital elevation model, range of analytical and synthetic morphometric maps and hypsographical profiles, circular charts, bar diagrams, plots and tables of relief's various morphometric parameters as well as apportionment for their further complex morphogenetical analysis. Key words: morphometric analysis of the relief, geoinformation systems, geoinformation data base, digital elevation models, morphometric parameters of the relief, analytical and synthetic morphometric maps.

The Importance of TM3-4 Loop Subdomains for Functional Reconstitution of Glycine Receptors by Independent Domains

Truncated glycine receptors that have been found in human patients suffering from the neuromotor disorder hyperekplexia or in spontaneous mouse models resulted in non-functional ion channels. Rescue of function experiments with the lacking protein portion expressed as a separate independent domain demonstrated restoration of glycine receptor functionality in vitro. This construct harbored most of the TM3-4 loop, TM4, and the C terminus and was required for concomitant transport of the truncated α1 and the complementation domain from the endoplasmic reticulum toward the cell surface, thereby enabling complex formation of functional glycine receptors. Here, the complementation domain was stepwise truncated from its N terminus in the TM3-4 loop. Truncation of more than 49 amino acids led again to loss of functionality in the receptor complex expressed from two independent domain constructs. We identified residues 357-418 in the intracellular TM3-4 loop as being required for reconstitution of functional glycine-gated channels. All complementation constructs showed cell surface protein expression and correct orientation according to glycine receptor topology. Moreover, we demonstrated that the truncations did not result in a decreased protein-protein interaction between both glycine receptor domains. Rather, deletions of more than 49 amino acids abolished conformational changes necessary for ion channel opening. When the TM3-4 loop subdomain harboring residues 357-418 was expressed as a third independent construct together with the truncated N-terminal and C-terminal glycine receptor domains, functionality of the glycine receptor was again restored. Thus, residues 357-418 represent an important determinant in the process of conformational rearrangements following ligand binding resulting in channel opening.

Enriching descriptive information in ranking and sorting problems with visualizations techniques

PurposeMost of the proposed decision aid methods provide the user only with a prescriptive approach (quantitative analysis) without any descriptive approach (qualitative analysis). It is therefore not possible to justify and recommend ways of improvement. The purpose of this paper is to introduce visualization techniques to complement prescriptive approaches.Design/methodology/approachVisual techniques have been developed for the FlowSort sorting method, namely the FS‐GAIA and stacked bar diagrams.FindingsIt is found that with visual techniques, fine details can be captured, e.g. detection of incomparability (with FS‐GAIA) and the composition of a score (with stacked bar diagrams).Research limitations/implicationsIn the future, it is expected that other multi‐criteria decision methods will be complemented by prescriptive approaches.Practical implicationsA real case study is introduced in order to illustrate the practicality of the visual techniques. In this paper, the innovation performances of small and medium enterprises from the French Lorraine region are assessed.Social implicationsIt is expected that the quality of the decisions taken are improved because of being better informed.Originality/valueThe paper, using a real case study, provides important new tools to enhance decision quality.