Minimum Norms Research Articles

The Wto, Intellectual Property and Aids

The TRIPS Agreement establishes minimum norms for the protection of intellectual property rights. In certain fields, especially the pharmaceutical, it provides for an important degree of flexibility that the southern countries may be able to use to their own benefit. However, these countries frequently do not know how to take advantage of this flexibility, choosing instead to rely on the intellectual property criteria adopted by the northern countries. In other cases, this flexibility is insufficient to avoid problems in access to medications, as is the case for AIDS treatments.

Relative error of the estimations of different error characteristics

In the present paper 9 error characteristics are detailedly investigated by Monte Carlo calculations in point of view of the fluctuation of their estimates. In all 9 cases the error characteristic is defined as the minimum value of a modern norm of deviations, just in the same manner as in the classical statistics the σ scatter was defined as the minimum value of the L2-norm. The results are in Table I summarized and in Figs 1–9 presented for five parent distribution types and for five sample sizes: n = 5; 9; 25; 100 and 400; the statistical fluctuation is characterized by the relative semi-intersextile ranges of the minimum norms (N = 200000 repetition number was chosen in the Monte Carlo calculations). On the basis of the values of Table I the uncertainties can be determined with such accuracy which is seldom required in the practice. Because of the fact that ordinarily 15–20 % is accepted as the “error of the error”, in the Table III asymptotic values are also given to give possibility to the simplest: according to Aasympt/√n executed calculations.

Nonnegative Minimum Biased Quadratic Estimation in Mixed Linear Models

The problem of nonnegative quadratic estimation of a parametric function γ(β, σ)=β′Fβ+∑ri=1fiσ2i in a general mixed linear model M{y, Xβ, V(σ)=∑ri=1σ2iVi} is discussed. Necessary and sufficient conditions are given for y′A0y to be a minimum biased estimator for γ. It is shown how to formulate the problem of finding a nonnegative minimium biased estimator of γ as a conic optimization problem, which can be efficiently solved using convex optimization techniques. Models with two variance components are considered in detail. Some applications to one-way classification mixed models are given. For these models minimum biased estimators with minimum norms for square of expectation β2 and for σ21 are presented in explicit forms.

Pockets of irrationality in an increasingly rational world

The transition is described from the “mediated society” (Lachs) to the “network society” (Castells), caused by the increasingly rapid complexification of modern society. On the level of psychic systems, i.e. the individual’s consciousness, the modern network society promotes new (non‐Marxist and non‐psychiatric) forms of powerlessness and meaningless. On the level of social systems, i.e. the system of communications in the network society, the results of this are described. The network society is only partially developed: in some areas more than others, in the economic and political more than in the cultural sphere. As an example, the present‐day situation in Yugoslavia is discussed, as well as the chances for the emergence of world‐wide minimum norms, both ecological and anti‐genocide.

Socially Obligatory Drinking: A Sociological Analysis of Norms Governing Minimum Drinking Levels

In many social situations, the consumption of at least some alcohol is socially obligatory—at least for some participants. This paper focuses on the norms that govern minimum levels of consumption in such settings. Evidence for the existence of such norms is derived from the empirical literature on drinking and on my own research on reactions to non-drinking and lighter-drinking men in New Zealand. Reactions encountered ranged from subtle nonverbal responses to threats of physical force. These responses add weight to the contention that abstinence and lighter drinking can be thought of as deviance relative to minimum drinking norms. Identifying abstinence and lighter drinking as deviance locates the study of minimum drinking norms within the ambit of the alcohol branch of the sociology of deviance. This raises some interesting issues from a public health point of view and partially balances the historical bias in favor of studying maximum drinking norms.

Aceptación de muestras por lotes: aplicabilidad en la evaluación de cartera de servicios de atención primaria

To determine the applicability of the acceptance of lot quality assurance sampling (LQAS) in the primary care service portfolio, comparing its results with those given by classic evaluation. Compliance with the minimum technical norms (MTN) of the service of diabetic care was evaluated through the classic methodology (confidence 95%, accuracy 5%, representativeness of area, sample of 376 histories) and by LQAS (confidence 95%, power 80%, representativeness of primary care team (PCT), defining a lot by MTN and PCT, sample of 13 histories/PCT). Effort, information obtained and its operative nature were assessed. 44 PCTs from Murcia Primary Care Region. Classic methodology: compliance with MTN ranged between 91.1% (diagnosis, 95% CI, 84.2-94.0) and 30% (repercussion in viscera, 95% CI, 25.4-34.6). Objectives in three MTN were reached (diagnosis, history and EKG). LQAS: no MTN was accepted in all the PCTs, <<01-diagnosis>> being the most accepted (42 PCT, 95.6%) and <<07-Funduscopy>> the least accepted (24 PCT, 55.6%). In 9 PCT all were accepted (20.4%), and in 2 none were accepted (4.5%). Data were analysed through Pareto charts. Classic methodology offered accurate results, but did not identify which centres were those that did not comply (general focus). LQAS was preferable for evaluating MTN and probably coverage because: 1) it uses small samples, which foment internal quality-improvement initiatives; 2) it is easy and rapid to execute; 3) it identifies the PCT and criteria where there is an opportunity for improvement (specific focus), and 4) it can be used operatively for monitoring.

Genetic algorithm approach for designing higher-order digital differentiators

An effect approach is proposed for designing higher-order digital differentiators by the genetic algorithm (GA) method. By minimizing a quadratic measure of the error in the frequency band, appropriate crossover, mutation, and selection operations are used to get the filter coefficients. This method is not only simple and fast but also optimal in the least-squares sense. Comparison to the well-known McClellan–Parks algorithm for minimax equiripple filters shows that both are optimal in the sense of different minimum norms of the error function, but much better performance is obtained with the proposed approach in most of the frequency band except in the narrow-band region near the cutoff edge.

Eigenfilter design of higher-order digital differentiators

An effective approach is proposed for designing higher order differentiators by the eigenfilter method. By minimizing a quadratic measure of the error in the frequency band, an eigenvector of an appropriate matrix is computed to get the filter coefficients. This method is not only simple and fast, but also optimal in the least-squares sense. Comparison to the McClellan-Parks algorithm for minimax equiripple filters shows that both are optimal in the sense of different minimum norms of the error function, but much better performance is obtained with the proposed approach in most of the frequency band, except in the narrowband region near the cutoff edge. >

New distance measures: The route toward truly non-Gaussian geostatistics

The projection or minimum error norm algorithm does not require that the distance measure be a variogram. In non-Gaussian cases, the traditional variogram distance measure leading to minimization of an error variance offers no definite advantage. Other distance measures, more outlierresistant than the variogram, are proposed which fulfill the condition of the projection theorem. The resulting minimum error norms provide the same data configurations ranking as traditionally obtained from kriging variances. A case study based on actual digital terrain data is presented.

Minimum primary health care interventions for child survival: Setting the research agenda

AbstractWith the purpose of exposing some of the underlying issues, the first part of the article discusses the background and assumptions inherent to the idea of minimum primary health care interventions for child survival. The second part puts forward some areas for study, based upon their potential importance to child health and survival. International and national approaches to ‘minimum interventions’ are seen as being rooted in their political contexts, including the wider debate over the relationships between economic growth, development and the meeting of basic needs.To have relevance for health planning and management, it is argued that research agendas concerned with the impact of primary health care (PHC) interventions upon child survival must be: country‐specific; start with ‘what is’; and take entire national frameworks into account, including the respective roles and effects of the private and public sectors. Potentially useful research activities are discussed in the areas of coverage and resource allocation, and with regard to the development of minimum norms and standards. Proposals are made for setting a research agenda for PHC programmes in Mexico.

Ocular Accomodation in Juvenile Diabetics

This paper discusses aspects of Ocular Accommodation measured by the push-up to blur out and minus lens to blur out methods in a sample population of juvenile diabetics. The data suggest an accelerated age-­related trend to loss of accommoda­tion. Since as many as 2/3 of this sample failed to reach Duane's minimum norms of accommodation careful measurement of ocular ac­commodation in young persons between 6 and 18 years of age may provide a means of early detection of diabetes mellitus, particularly when considered in conjunction with a tear glucose test and case history. Since this is a preliminary report the authors ask speculative questions on causative mechanisms.

Commuting projections with assigned ranges

1. Let I be a Hilbert space. A projection is a bounded idempotent linear operator. Orthogonal projections form a proper subclass of the class of all projections. A problem is to get a condition for there to exist commuting projections E1, * E,n with the same ranges as given orthogonal projections P1, * , P,n respectively. This will be settled in terms of properties of the sublattice, generated by P1, * * , P,, in the lattice of all orthogonal projections. In case n = 2, commuting projections with minimum norms are constructed. Another problem is to find commuting projections E1, * * , E,n in a Hilbert space S, containing I as a subspace, such that Pjx =PEjx for xCeSD, j= 1, 2, ... , n, where P is the orthogonal projection from 9 onto t. This will be proved to be always possible.

Normal interpediculate distances (minimum and maximum) in children and adults.

NORMAL INTERPEDICULATE DISTANCES (MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM) IN CHILDREN AND ADULTSVINCENT C. HINCK, M.D., WILLIAM M. CLARK, JR., M.D. and CARL E. HOPKINS, PH.D.Audio Available | Share

Some Features of West German Policy for Improving the Agricultural Structure

This paper is a factual description of agricultural structural improvement policy as applied in West Germany. The three major items of long‐term investment by the state to create better income potential for farmers are consolidation of fragmented holdings, farm resettlement, and farm area enlargement. An underlying difficulty is scarcity of land, either for resettled farms or to enlarge existing ones. Putting into effect local minimum norms of size of farm business is a major problem for those engaged in the practical work of farm structural reorganisation. Apart from intervention by the authorities in favour of selected areas and farmer applicants, other means are used to influence structural change. Improvement of the man‐land ratio is central to the improvement of the income efficiency of German farming. As coercion is avoided as much as possible, future success of West German policy will largely depend on rate of migration out of full‐time farm employment.