Variation Of Constituents Research Articles

Interdisciplinary study of post-agricultural pollution in the Wielkopolski National Park (Poland)

A study was carried out in the Wielkopolski National Park (mid-western Poland) to trace the pathways along which pollutants migrated from an area that was previously in agricultural use. During a 1-year study, major ions (Na+, NH4 + K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl− , F− , NO3 −, NO2 −, SO4 2− and PO4 3−) were determined in groundwater samples from boreholes, the springs that feed Lake Góreckie and the lake itself. The vertical variability of water-soluble constituents of sediments near the lake was also studied. It was found that changes in groundwater-dependent ecosystems are related to the type of sediment, groundwater, springs and lake eutrophication. Nitrate and chloride concentrations in groundwater and springs were found to exceed the water quality standards set by both the Polish national limits and those of the World Health Organisation.

Assessing and Combining Financial Conditions Indexes

We evaluate the short horizon predictive ability of financial conditions indexes for stock returns and macroeconomic variables. We find reliable predictability only when the sample includes the 2008 financial crisis, and we argue that this result is driven by tailoring the indexes to the crisis and by non-synchronous trading. Financial conditions indexes are based on a variety of constituent variables and aggregation methods, and we discuss a simple procedure for consolidating the growing number of different indexes into a single proxy for financial conditions.

Supply chain capability of countries and its effect on foreign direct investment: a fuzzy-set analysis

International plant location decisions have acquired relevance in a globalised economy and evidence suggests that the overall production and logistics environment of a country would have a bearing on foreign direct investment (FDI). This study attempts to analyse the impact of the production and logistics environment on incoming FDI. We introduce a new conceptual framework of supply chain capability (SCC) of countries and using the ‘fuzzy-set analysis’ methodology attempt to determine whether SCC is a necessary or sufficient cause for FDI flows. This study validates the basic proposition that supply chain capability of a country is a determinant of FDI. Further, the study suggests that the FDI attractiveness of a country is better explained by a combination of factors as reflected by the composite variable, SCC, than by individual constituent variables. This study offers insights to firm managers to evaluate various competing country environments, thus enabling them to make better strategic decisions about foreign investment.

Predicting independent survival after stroke: a European study for the development and validation of standardised stroke scales and prediction models of outcome

BackgroundAccurate prediction of stroke outcome is desirable for clinical management and provision of appropriate care, and potentially for stratification of patients into studies.ObjectivesTo investigate the predictive properties of validated scales...

Changes in decadal variability and depositional flux of aerosol constituents recorded in the EPICA Dome C ice core beyond the last interglacial period

Changes in decadal variability and depositional flux of aerosol constituents recorded in the EPICA Dome C ice core beyond the last interglacial period

Fluorescence spectra and elastic scattering characteristics of atmospheric aerosol in Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA: Variability of concentrations and possible constituents and sources of particles in various spectral clusters

The UV-excited laser-induced-fluorescence (UV-LIF) spectra of single atmospheric particles and the three-band integrating-nephelometer elastic scattering of atmospheric aerosol were measured during four approximately 24-h periods on May 2007 in Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA. Aerosol scattering measurements in the nephelometer red channel (50-nm band centered at 700-nm) ranged from around 3–10 times the molecular (Rayleigh) scattering background. On average 22.8% of particles with size greater than about 1 μm diameter have fluorescence above a preset fluorescence threshold. A hierarchical cluster analysis indicates that most of the single-particle UV-LIF spectra fall into about 10 categories (spectral clusters) as found previously at other geographic sites (Pinnick et al., 2004; Pan et al., 2007). The clusters include spectra characteristic of various humic/fulvic acids, humic-like-substances (HULIS), chemically aged terpenes, fungal spores, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, bacteria, cellulose/pollens, and mixtures of various organic carbon compounds. By far the most populated cluster category is similar to those of chemically aged terpenes/humic-materials; on average this population comprises about 62% of fluorescent particles. Clusters with spectra similar to that of some HULIS aerosol contain on average 10.0% of particles; those characteristic of some fungal spores (or perhaps mixtures of aromatic organic compounds) 8.4% of particles; bacteria-like spectra 1.6% of particles; and cellulose/pollen-like spectra 0.8% of particles. Measurements of fluorescent particles over relatively short (24 min) periods reveal that the concentrations of particles in the most populated clusters are highly correlated, suggesting that the particles populating them derive from the same region; these particles might be composed of crustal material coated with secondary organic carbon. On the other hand, concentrations of particles having cellulose-like spectra are generally uncorrelated with those in any other cluster. No clear distinction in fluorescent aerosol characteristics can be seen for different air mass trajectories arriving at the sampling site, suggesting that fluorescent aerosol particles are primarily of local origin. Integrations of the single-particle UV-LIF spectra over approximate 24 h time intervals reveal two broad peaks around 350 nm and 450 nm (for 263 nm excitation); the 450 nm peak is somewhat similar to that measured previously for water soluble organic carbon derived from aerosol collections. The 350 nm peak apparently has not been seen before in measurements of aerosol collections and may derive from non-soluble primary biological aerosol particles such as fungal spores. Further measurements are needed to investigate in more detail the generality of these results.

Artificial neural network modeling of the water quality index for Kinta River (Malaysia) using water quality variables as predictors

This article describes design and application of feed-forward, fully-connected, three-layer perceptron neural network model for computing the water quality index (WQI)1Abbreviations: AAE, average absolute error; ANN, artificial neural network; FA, factor analysis; MAE, mean absolute error; MSE, mean squared error; Nh, number of hidden neurons; PFA, principal factor analysis; QP, quick propagation (Quickprop); r, correlation coefficient; R2, coefficient of determination; SEM, standard error of the mean; SSE, sum of squared errors; WQ, water quality; WQI, water quality index; WQV, water quality variable.1 for Kinta River (Malaysia). The modeling efforts showed that the optimal network architecture was 23-34-1 and that the best WQI predictions were associated with the quick propagation (QP) training algorithm; a learning rate of 0.06; and a QP coefficient of 1.75. The WQI predictions of this model had significant, positive, very high correlation (r=0.977, p<0.01) with the measured WQI values, implying that the model predictions explain around 95.4% of the variation in the measured WQI values.The approach presented in this article offers useful and powerful alternative to WQI computation and prediction, especially in the case of WQI calculation methods which involve lengthy computations and use of various sub-index formulae for each value, or range of values, of the constituent water quality variables.

Efficiency of Pena’s P2 Distance in Construction of Human Development Indices

The paper is an attempt to evaluate the efficiency of Pena’s DP-2 method over a host of methods used to make composite indices. To undertake this exercise, variables and data used and methodology adopted in Human Development Report 2011 are employed along with nine other methodologies employed by other scholars. Although there is no agreed principle of judging an index to be best among alternative indices, it may be suggested that the composite index which is most informative among all other indices may be considered as the most acceptable one. The present study reveals that Pena-DP2 index and Penmax index have close similarity. Computationally, Pena’s method of construction of index is much simpler, but the interpretation of Penmax index is more straightforward. On the other hand, Maxmin index is norm-based and has a justification on Wald’s principle of decision-making. The Maxmin index also is the most egalitarian index against the Principal Component based index, which is known to be most elitist. On ‘sum of absolute correlation’ and ‘sum of squared correlation’, too, the Maxmin index is superior to other indices. It appears, therefore, that the Maxmin composite index which is obtained by maximization of minimum of correlation between the composite index and the constituent variables is a better than others. Further, if we go by the argument of Neumann and Morgenstern none of the composite indices is a cardinal measure in the strict sense of measurement.

Traditional neuropsychological correlates and reliability of the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics-4 battery for Parkinson’s disease

BackgroundThe Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics Battery-4 for PD offers the promise of a computerized approach to cognitive assessment. MethodsTo assess its utility, the ANAM4-PD was administered to 72 PD patients and 24 controls along with a traditional battery. Reliability was assessed by retesting 26 patients. ResultsThe Cognitive Efficiency Score (CES; a global score) exhibited high reliability (r = 0.86). Constituent variables exhibited lower reliability. The CES correlated strongly with the traditional battery global score, but displayed weaker relationships to UPDRS scores than the traditional score. Multivariate analysis of variance revealed a significant difference between the patient and control groups in ANAM4-PD performance, with three ANAM4-PD tests, Math, Tower, and Pursuit Tracking, displaying sizeable differences. In discriminant analyses these variables were as effective as the total ANAM4-PD in classifying cases designated as impaired based on traditional variables. Principal components analyses uncovered fewer factors in the ANAM4-PD relative to the traditional battery. ANAM4-PD variables correlated at higher levels with traditional motor and processing speed variables than with untimed executive, intellectual or memory variables. ConclusionsThe ANAM4-PD displays high global reliability, but variable subtest reliability. The battery assesses a narrower range of cognitive functions than traditional tests, and discriminates between patients and controls less effectively. Three ANAM4-PD tests, Pursuit Tracking, Math, and Tower performed as well as the total ANAM4-PD in classifying patients as cognitively impaired. These findings could guide the refinement of the ANAM4-PD as an efficient method of screening for mild to moderate cognitive deficits in PD patients.

Water quality monitoring in Basque coastal areas using local chlorophyll-&lt;inline-formula&gt;&lt;math display="inline" overflow="scroll"&gt;&lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mi&gt;a&lt;/mi&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt;&lt;/math&gt;&lt;/inline-formula&gt; algorithm and MERIS images

Accurate estimation of chlorophyll-a (chl-a), a proxy of the eutrophication risk, is necessary in coastal areas for the assessment of water quality in accordance with European Direc- tives. Local parameterization of remote sensing algorithms is useful to cope with the variability and specificity of optically-active in-water constituents. Using the Bay of Biscay coastal waters, affected by Basque river runoffs, as a case study, the objectives of this investigation are to: 1. develop an empirical algorithm to estimate water surface chl-a for the optically-complex Basque coastal waters; 2. explore the influence of suspended matter, phytoplankton species, and pigment content on the algorithm developed for medium resolution imaging spectrometer instrument (MERIS) imagery; 3. compare the local algorithm to three ocean color algorithms (OC4v6, Gitelson's algorithm, and the OC5); and 4. apply the local algorithm to the MERIS images. For this purpose, two surveys were undertaken within the study area, the Batel-1 survey in 2007, and the Batel-2, in 2009. The empirical algorithm was developed with remote sensing reflectances (Rrs), undertaken with a TriOS field spectrometer, and chl-a measured in situ from the Batel-2 survey. The algorithm was not affected by different concentrations of suspended matter in surface waters, within the range from 0.0 to 6.6 g · m −3 . There was no significant effect of 23 accessory pigments found in the area on the algorithm. Eighty-four Rrs and chl-a measure- ments from the Batel-1 survey were used to validate the local algorithm and to compare it with output of the other algorithms. The local algorithm provided the lowest root-mean-square differ- ence (RMS ¼ 1.7 mg · m −3 ), the best correlation with the observed data (R ¼ 0.8), together with the best slope-intercept combination between predicted and observed chl-a (slope ¼ 0.5, intercept ¼ 0.6). The chl-a algorithm developed here for MERIS imagery can assist in the assess- ment of water ecological status in the southeastern part of the Bay of Biscay, in a cost-effective manner. © 2012 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). (DOI: 10.1117/ 1.JRS.6.063519)

A Maximum Entropy Perspective of Pena’s Synthetic Indicators

This paper uses mixed combinatorial-cum-real particle swarm method to obtain a heuristically optimal order in which the constituent variables can be arranged so as to yield some generalized maximum entropy synthetic indicators that represent the constituent variables in the best information-theoretic sense. It may help resolve the arbitrariness and indeterminacy of Pena’s method of construction of a synthetic indicator which at present is very sensitive to the order in which the constituent variables (whose linear aggregation yields the synthetic indicator) are arranged.

Modifikasi Model Bauran Pemasaran Plus Terhadap Variabel Pembentuk Yang Positif Dan Signifikan

PT. X Surabaya is a bookstore outlet that sell the book as its main business, for that company needs to make improvements and development to face the competition, to increase customer satisfaction and ultimately become loyal consumers. Variable proposed model starts from the marketing mix which is formed from the variables (product, price, youth get the product, distribution, promotion, location, diversity of products sold and services), corporate policies, consumer behavior, purchase decision, thus increasing the impact of consumer satisfaction loyal to the PT. X. The results show that modification of Marketing Mix Plus had a direct impact, positive and significant impact on its constituent variables namely Products of 0.482, Marketing Mix Plus had a direct impact, positive and significant impact on the price of its constituent variables of 0.343, Marketing Mix had Plus a direct impact, positive and significant impact on the distribution of its constituent variables 0.48, Marketing Mix Plus had a direct impact, positive and significant impact on its constituent variables namely Promotion of 0.641, Marketing Mix Plus had a direct impact, positive and significant impact on the location of its constituent variables of 0.443.

A Note on Construction of Heuristically Optimal Pena’s Synthetic Indicators by the Particle Swarm Method of Global Optimization

Pena’s method of construction of a synthetic indicator is very sensitive to the order in which the constituent variables (whose linear aggregation yields the synthetic indicator) are arranged. Due to this, Pena’s method can at present give only an arbitrary synthetic indicator whose representativeness is indeterminate and uncertain, especially when the number of constituent variables is not very small. This paper uses discrete global optimization method based on the Particle Swarms to obtain a heuristically optimal order in which the constituent variables can be arranged so as to yield Pena’s synthetic indicator that maximizes the minimal absolute (or squared) correlation with its constituent variables.

Children’s concept of probability as inferred from their binary choices—revisited

Children had to choose one of two urns—each comprising beads of winning and losing colours—from which to draw a winning bead. Three experiments, aimed at diagnosing rules of choice and designed without confounding possible rules with each other, were conducted. The level of arithmetic difficulty of the trials was controlled so as not to distort the effects of the constituent variables of proportion. Children aged 4 to 11 first chose by more winning elements and proceeded with age to choices by greater proportion of winning elements. There were some indications of intermediate choices by fewer losing elements and by greater difference between the two colours. Distinguishing correct choices from favourable draws, namely acknowledging the role of chance in producing the outcome and insisting on the right choice, grew with age. Children switched rather early from considering one dimension to two; they combined the quantities of winning and losing elements either additively by difference or, with age, mostly multiplicatively by proportion. Guided playful activities for young children, based on this research, are suggested for fostering acquisition of the basic constituents of the probability concept: uncertainty of outcome, quantification by proportion, and the reverse relation between the chances of complementary events.

A Note on the Indeterminacy and Arbitrariness of Pena’s Method of Construction of Synthetic Indicators

In this paper we demonstrate that Pena’s method of construction of a synthetic indicator is very sensitive to the order in which the constituent variables (whose linear aggregation yields the synthetic indicator) are arranged. Since m number of constituent variables may be arranged in m-factorial ways, even a moderately large m can give rise to a very large number of synthetic indicators from which one cannot choose the one which best represents the constituent variables. Given that an analyst has too little information as to the order in which a sizeable number of constituent variables must be arranged so as to obtain the best representative synthetic indicator, Pena’s method can give only an arbitrary synthetic indicator whose representativeness is indeterminate and uncertain.

Variability in volatile constituents of Cinnamomum tamala leaf from Uttarakhand Himalaya

ObjectiveTo evaluate the variation of Cinnamomum tamala leaf essential oil in respect with months and tree size class. MethodsBy fallowing standard laboratory methods using capillary GC-FID and GC-MS. ResultsThe oil samples were analyzed for two months and two different tree size classes. cinnamaldehyde, was the principal component, was higher in the both months i.e. October and January, highest in 30 cm girth class tree in January month (59.23%) and lowest in 60 cm girth class tree in a month of October (41.90%). Smaller size class tree contained greater amount of cinnamaldehyde as compared to higher size class. ConclusionsConsequences of the present study need to selection of proper, tree size and month for harsh economic potentials of such valuable resources

사이버대학생과 일반대학생의 사회복지 현장실습성과 및 전문직 정체성에 영향을 미치는 요인

The purpose of this study is to find intervention strategies of university and social welfare agency through analysis of factors influencing on field education outcomes and professional identity of social welfare in cyber university and ordinary university students. The major findings are as follows. First, the degree of field education outcome in cyber university students is higher than ordinary university ones. Second, supervision and university element are meaningful factors to constituent variables of field education outcomes in participants, but major satisfaction is only important for ordinary university students. Third, professional identity is related to major satisfaction, supervision, and university element in cyber university students. But university element hasn`t influence on professional identity in ordinary university students. Therefore, supervisors have to give systematic instruction and do clear role model. Universities make an effort to improve major satisfaction and the quality as a pre-social worker.

Variability in growth, nutrition and phytochemical constituents of Sphaeranthes amaranthoides (L.) Burm. As influenced by indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Variability in growth, nutrition and phytochemical constituents of Sphaeranthes amaranthoides (L.) Burm. As influenced by indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

A Spatial Analysis of Delegate Voting at the Constitutional Convention

Past analyses of the U.S. Constitutional Convention have relied strictly on votes recorded for the states or a relatively small number of roll calls. We construct a new dataset covering delegate votes on over 600 roll calls. We utilize the data in several ways. First, we use the votes to estimate a single dimensional position for the delegates to determine overall voting patterns. Next, we explain these positions using a variety of delegate and constituent variables in a double--censored heteroskedastic Tobit model. Finally, we suggest a method to identify potential state and floor medians to predict equilibrium outcomes.

Prospective evaluation of the Manual handling Assessment Charts

ObjectivesTo assess prospectively the ability of the Health and Safety Executive's Manual handling Assessment Charts (MAC) to predict the incidence of work loss due to low back pain (LBP).MethodsWe are...