Use Of Relative Values Research Articles

Comparative durability tests of preservative-treated and chemically modified wood – Assessment and classification on the basis of different decay tests

Not before the year 2016, the European standard system did allow for classifying the durability of treated wood in addition to natural durability of untreated wood species. After its latest revision, EN 350 (2016) allows a durability classification of solid wood and wood-based materials with the help of five durability classes (DC) between ‘very durable’ (DC 1) and ‘non-durable’ (DC 5). However, different test methods, assessment measures, and calculation methods can be used for durability classification. This inevitably leads to different assessments of the biological durability of wood. This study aimed therefore on a comparative durability classification of preservative-treated and chemically modified wood (here: treated with 1,3-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxyethyleneurea, DMDHEU) using different laboratory and field test methods. Durability classes of the tested timbers differed not only between tested materials, but depended also on the applied test, assessment, and calculation method. In this respect, the use of relative values (x-values), i.e., mass loss (ML) or MOE loss data compared with a non-durable reference material can help to harmonize the classification and make DCs more comparable. The use of relative values can also help to reduce the effect of varying virulence of test fungi, activity of test soil substrates, and the climate-induced hazard of test sites.

ИЗМЕРЯЕМЫЙ КОЭФФИЦИЕНТ ДИФФУЗИИ В ДИАГНОСТИКЕ МЕТАСТАТИЧЕСКОГО ПОРАЖЕНИЯ КОСТЕЙ СКЕЛЕТА

Aim: To evaluate the possibilities of absolute and relative values of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in the diagnosis of metastatic lesions of skeletal bones. Material and methods: The study included 12 patients with metastatic bone lesions, before any treatment was applied. The age of the patients ranged from 38 to 73 years, 3 men, 9 women. Among the morphological forms of tumors were presented: cancers of the breast (3), prostate (1) glands, colon (1), lung (2), body (1) and cervix (1) uterus, thyroid (1) and pancreas (2). The detected changes were classified on the basis of Bone scan, SPECT/CT and standard MRI. The ADC values of unchanged bone marrow (n=360), divided by anatomical zones, metastatic foci (n=117), as well as benign changes of various nature (n=19) were analyzed. The ratio of the ADC values of each of the metastatic and benign focal formations to the normal values for each of the localizations was calculated. Results: Unchanged bone marrow, depending on anatomical localization (cervical, thoracic, lumbar spine, pelvic bones, shoulder blades, collarbones, sternum, ribs, proximal humerus and femur bones) from the point of view of ADC, showed statistically significant heterogeneity. Statistical analysis has shown that there is no connection between the groups of ADC indicators in the foci of metastatic lesions, combined depending on the anatomical localization. With a similar comparison, but by belonging to the primary tumor, an even greater intergroup difference was found. ADC values in the foci of metastatic lesions turned out to be dependent on the morphological type of the primary tumor and significantly differ both from metastases of other morphological affiliation and from normal red bone marrow parameters. The use of relative values allowed to increase the specificity from 15 to 19 %. Conclusion: This study showed that knowledge of the range of reference ADC values for unchanged red bone marrow and anomalies of various genesis is important in differential diagnosis. The differentiation of the skeleton into separate anatomical zones probably makes it possible to increase the effectiveness of the isolated application of the technique when it comes to absolute values. The morphological affiliation of metastatic foci is important in the formation of ADC values, rather than the bone marrow microenvironment, which is also supported by the low efficiency of the use of relative values.

Comment on “The PC Index Variations During 23/24 Solar Cycles: Relation to Solar Wind Parameters and Magnetic Disturbances” by Troschichev et al.

AbstractExamination of the contribution from O. A. Troshichev, S. Dolgacheva, N. A. Stepanov, and D. A. Sormakov: “The PC index variations during 23/24 solar cycles: relation to solar wind parameters and magnetic disturbances,” https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JA028491 has disclosed inconsistencies in the applied methods and errors in the calculated values. Some of the discrepancies reported in the present commentary affect directly the illustrations presented in their contribution while other possible errors may not be apparent since the use of relative values in their presentation makes thorough assessments difficult.

Research of key approaches to responsive website development and their practical application

The perspectives of responsive approach in web development in the design and layout implementation by web developers are analyzed. It is due to, primarily, a significant increase in mobile internet traffic and increase the diversity of electronic devices. The optimal responsive approach compared with the development of certain versions of websites for different devices is analyzed. It is shown that responsive approach provides greater website support by all devices. This is achieved thanks to its particular advantages, including the use of HTML and CSS code to display a website on all devices and adapting the content to the width of the browser. Definition of the term «responsive web design» by different authors and scholars are considered. The basic components using this approach are theoretically described and practical examples are given. In particular, the use of relative values for a given width of the container and child elements, use of media queries for laptops, tablets and mobile phones. «Mobile-first» approach is investigated as an independent web development philosophy and at the same time, as an integral part of responsive website page layout, its advantages and disadvantages. An example for the analysis of website responsibility was selected resource of the American newspaper «The Boston Globe». With a significant every year growth of screen resolution the issue of JPEG format feasibility for displaying graphics of the website is became actual. Therefore, the analysis of SVG format is carried out. Graphics clarity isn’t lost for it and the output file size much smaller as a result. It is shown that this is achieved through describing two-dimensional graphics in XML and using three types of objects: shapes, images and text. Despite the fact that today there is access to many popular frameworks that are already implemented responsibility, many companies continue to develop multiple versions of websites for different devices. This significantly increases the resource costs for their support, and as a result they are available for a small portion of users.

Issues and Prospectives of the Educational Service Market Modernization

1. Introduction Fundamental changes taking place in the world economic scene today require improvement of competitiveness among the Russian higher education institutions of the global educational service market. Among the priorities of Russian educational service market development are building a competitive advantage on the global educational market, economic feasibility of financial sources and the amount of funding for training professional staff; and the role of the government in solving the problems of higher education institutions. Modernization of the entire educational system is required as well as availability of higher education for various population groups in Russia and the improvement of its quality in line with the international standards. Lack of full scientific certainty in regard to these problems and their significance prove high relevance of the chosen theme and suggest detailed research of the higher professional education market in the Russian Federation. The works of many Russian scientists and experts made a significant contribution to the research of relationships between educational system and economy. Among the authors are Kuzminov et al. (2013), Silanteva (2009), Chebotareva (2012) and others. The problems of economic relations in educational system were demonstrated in the works by Baydenko et al. (2004), Lobovskaya et al. (2005) and others. Abroad the problem of efficiency of educational services in transition economy is actively studied by Eastern European scientists among which in particular are Ciurlau et al. (2012), Neamtu et al. (2009).Certain aspects of improving competitiveness of educational system are covered in the works of Dearden et al. (2014), Cellini et al. (2014), Laureti et al. (2014) and others. After Russia accepted Bologna Convention, Bologna educational system is actively introduced in our country everywhere (pl. refer to the Conference of European Ministers Responsible for Higher Education, 2005). Bologna Process is a process of volunteer participation of European educational systems oriented toward creation of integrated learning and scientific environment. 2. Method For our analysis we used both universal research methods such as analysis and synthesis, and the method of scientific abstraction. Analysis is the method of mental division of the research subject into components and studying each component separately. Synthesis is opposite to analysis. Method of scientific abstraction is understood as the way of research based on emphasizing only the most important, significant and recurrent. These universal research methods are often applied in empirical studies. We also use a number of statistical methods, in particular, the method of statistical observation, the use of relative values and time series. Statistical observation is usually understood as systematic collection of numerical data about social life processes and events. During the observation initially identified indicators are recorded in order to obtain generalizing characteristics of processes and events. Analysis of relative values is often use to obtain correct evaluation of indicators' dynamics and structure. Relative values are understood as data showing quantitative relation between the processes and events taking place in the economy, education etc., and calculated by dividing one value by the other. The denominator is comparative base and numerator is compared value. Time series is a sequence of statistical indicators located in time. Their change reflects the development of a studied event or a process and allows clearly identify the formation or development of economic problems. We used the materials of Russian Federal State Statistics Service (2015), Higher School of Economics (2013), RBC (2013), Zabaturina (2013) and other as our database. Russian Federal State Statistics Service provides relevant systematic information about various aspects of social and economic relations including the level of educational service, state funding of this sphere, the number of educational institutions and the students on all levels of education in Russia. …

Global optimization on set of mixed variables: continuous and discrete with unordered possible values

The algorithms of global non-differentiable minimization of functions on set of the mixed variables: continuous and discrete with unordered specific possible values are constructed. The method of optimization is based on selective averaging of required variables, on adaptive reorganization of the sizes of admissible domain of trial movements and on use of relative values for minimised functions. Existence of discrete variables leads to solution of a sequence of global minimization problems of the functions in space of only continuous variables at the presence: 1) of their inequality restrictions for each problem; 2) of the general inequality restrictions for all problems (i.e. at the absence of dependence of functions fore inequality restrictions from discrete variables). In the first case, presence of discrete variables with unordered non-numeric possible values leads to solution of sequence of problems of global minimization of multiextreme functions on set only of continuous variables at the presence of their inequality restrictions. As a result, among the received optimum solutions the best is selected. In the second variant all minimized functions is convoluted in each sampling point in one multiextreme function and this function is minimised on continuous variables.

Response to Pick.

In his letter, Dr. Pick criticizes our use of relative values when representing the NOX2 inhibitory action of a novel small molecule (GSK2795039) in a semi-recombinant NOX2 membrane assay. To address this concern, we performed additional experiments using the superoxide inhibitable assays cytochrome C and water soluble tetrazolium salt (WST-1) reduction. In this letter, we document turnover values between 80 and 100 mol O2(•-)/s/mol cytochrome b558 in our semi-recombinant assay and confirmed that GSK2795039 inhibits the NOX2 isoform in the submicromolar range. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 23, 1251-1253.

Methods for Ensuring Accuracy of Measurements of the Surface Energy of Solids

Ways of ensuring the accuracy of experimental determinations of the specific free energy of solids are proposed. These methods are based on the use of relative values of this energy in different media for identical objects.

Brain atrophy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: relationship with 'black holes', disease duration and clinical disability.

Recent MRI studies in multiple sclerosis have highlighted the potential role of brain atrophy evaluation as a putative marker of disease progression. In the present study, we evaluated the supratentorial and infratentorial brain volume in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RR MS) and in healthy subjects. Moreover, we determined whether brain volumes of MS patients are associated with different aspects of brain MRI abnormalities and clinical findings. Two-dimensional acquired MRI was performed on 52 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and 30 healthy subjects. The volume of supratentorial and infratentorial structures was measured in selected representative slices. Gd-enhancement, T2 hyperintense, T1 hypointense (i.e. 'black holes') total lesion load, as well as the area of corpus callosum was calculated in the MS group and related to brain volume measures. Correlations between MRI parameters and clinical features were also considered. MS patients had significantly lower supratentorial, infratentorial brain volume and corpus callosum area than healthy subjects (P<0.01). Supratentorial brain volume was significantly related to corpus callosum area (r=0.58; P<0.01) and T1 hypointense lesion load (r=0.48; P<0.01), but not with T2 hyperintense lesion load. Infratentorial/supratentorial ratio was significantly associated with disease duration and EDSS score (r=-0.34; P=0.02 and r=-0.49; P<0.01, respectively). This study documents that brain atrophy is an early MRI finding in RR MS and it is closely related to 'black holes' burden. The use of relative values (infratentorial/supratentorial ratio) may increase the conspicuity of correlation between clinical and MRI findings.

Discussion about the use of relative values of permeabilities between two gases for high molecular weight polymers

Permeability measurements were performed on several polymeric films used for packaging applications. The results were analysed in terms of the ratio of the permeabilities between two gases. Moreover, recent experimental results and data reported in the literature have been compared with a simple relationship reported by van Krevelen for predicting the transport properties of high molecular weight polymers. Finally, a suggestion is made for improving the accuracy of the prediction of the permeabilities for high molecular weight polymers.

Optimization of multi-stage flash evaporation plants

A new approach to the optimization of multi-stage flash evaporation plants is presented. While retaining the basic features of current theories, the approach presented involves the use of relative values of economic parameters rather than their absolute values. The paper deals with a 3-free-design variable problem of constant output while two cost parameters may vary according to prescribed schedules. Optimization procedures are presented and tested using an illustrative example.