bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A bécsi klasszika megjelenése a Nemzeti Tankönyvkiadónak az általános iskola 6. évfolyama számára készült ének-zene tankönyvében és zenehallgatási anyagában
Authors: Kiss Henriett
Published: December 2014

Magyarországon az általános iskolai tanulók az ének-zene órákon megismerkednek az egyes zenetörténeti korszakokkal, a nagy zeneszerzők életével és remekműveikkel. A bécsi klasszika kora a 6. évfolyam tananyagában szerepel. Mit tanulnak a mai gyerekek Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven életéről és műveiről? Először a tantervet néztem meg. Ezt követően elemeztem a Nemzeti Tankönyvkiadó ének-zene tankönyvét. Végül a kapcsolódó zenehallgatási lemezt (CD) hallgattam meg. Megállapítottam, hogy a bécsi klasszika kora és zenéje mind a tantervben, mind a tankönyvben és a zenehallgatási lemezen hangsúlyosan van jelen. A tanulók ezek alapján kellőképpen megismerhetik e három nagy zeneszerző életét és művészetét.
Modeling Displacement Efficiency Improvement During Solvent Aided-SAGD
Authors: Keshavarz Mohsen , Chen Zhangxin
Published: December 2014

Coinjection of small amounts of hydrocarbon solvents with steam has the potential to improve the oil recovery efficiency while reducing the energy intensity of conventional SAGD (steam assisted gravity drainage). A number of studies have reported lower residual oil saturations inside the coinjection chamber compared to SAGD. There is, however, no mathematical model available to predict the extent of such displacement efficiency improvement or to compare it during the coinjection of different solvents.

This paper presents a mathematical procedure for the estimation of local displacement efficiency improvement in the coinjection process. Displacement efficiency is modeled as a function of local solvent accumulation, upon the arrival of coinjection chamber interface, and the temperature, as the region is swept by the chamber. The model is used to investigate the interaction of displacement efficiency improvement, ultimate bitumen recovery, and solvent retention inside the swept region, the last of which is of significant concern in large scale applications.

The complex interaction of mass and energy flow is simplified without loss of the fundamental mechanisms and phase behavior details. Initially, phase equilibrium equations are solved to find the thermodynamic conditions inside and at the boundary of the coinjection chamber. Then, the saturation of phases as well as the retained amount of solvent are estimated along the temperature profile inside the chamber by making reasonable assumptions. The model is also used to investigate the impact of changing a solvent-steam coinjection ratio on the displacement efficiency improvement and/or solvent retention.

Results indicate that coinjection can achieve improved displacement efficiency even without modifying the end point saturations of the relative permeability curves as a result of solvent coinjection. Eventually, the results are validated by using numerical simulations for the coinjection process. It is demonstrated that a robust understanding of phase behavior interaction with heat and solvent transport is critical to explaining the recovery mechanisms involved in solvent-aided SAGD.
Assessing the long-term impact of public investments in comparative effectiveness research: conceptual framework and lessons learned
Authors: Rich Eugene C , Esposito Dominick , Kimmey Laura D , Valenzano Christal Stone , Yong Pierre L
Published: December 2014

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 directed US$1.1 billion to the US Department of Health and Human Services for support of comparative effectiveness research (CER). As part of this investment, US Department of Health and Human Services commissioned a midstream evaluation of the ARRA CER portfolio. One goal of the evaluation was to identify issues to consider for a future evaluation of the long-term impact of this portfolio and other CER investments. In planning the ARRA CER evaluation, we developed and revised a conceptual framework and related policy research questions that may be useful to future efforts to assess the impact of CER or patient-centered outcomes research investments. In addition, we explored methodological challenges related to designing an evaluation to assess investments in CER that may be informative to any future plans to evaluate the long-term impact of ARRA CER as well subsequent investments made from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund.
Lessons from comparative effectiveness research methods development projects funded under the Recovery Act
Authors: Zurovac Jelena , Esposito Dominick
Published: December 2014

Background:
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) directed nearly US$29.2 million to comparative effectiveness research (CER) methods development.
Aim:
To help inform future CER methods investments, we describe the ARRA CER methods projects, identify barriers to this research and discuss the alignment of topics with published methods development priorities.
Methods:
We used several existing resources and held discussions with ARRA CER methods investigators.
Results & conclusion:
Although funded projects explored many identified priority topics, investigators noted that much work remains. For example, given the considerable investments in CER data infrastructure, the methods development field can benefit from additional efforts to educate researchers about the availability of new data sources and about how best to apply methods to match their research questions and data.
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act-comparative effectiveness research infrastructure investments: emerging data resources, tools and publications
Authors: Segal Courtney , Holve Erin
Published: December 2014

The Recovery Act provided a substantial, one-time investment in data infrastructure for comparative effectiveness research (CER). A review of the publications, data, and tools developed as a result of this support has informed understanding of the level of effort undertaken by these projects. Structured search queries, as well as outreach efforts, were conducted to identify and review resources from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 CER projects building electronic clinical data infrastructure. The findings from this study provide a spectrum of productivity across a range of topics and settings. A total of 451 manuscripts published in 192 journals, and 141 data resources and tools were identified and address gaps in evidence on priority populations, conditions, and the infrastructure needed to support CER.
Determinants of differences in the activity budgets of Rhinopithecus bieti by age/sex class at Xiangguqing in the Baimaxueshan nature reserve, China
Authors: Li Yanhong , Li Dayong , Ren Baoping , Hu Jie , Li Baoguo , Krzton Ali , Li Ming
Published: December 2014

Ecological factors are known to influence the activity budgets of Yunnan
snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti). However, little is known about how
activity budgets vary between age/sex classes, because the species is
difficult to observe in the wild. This study provides the first detailed
activity budgets subdivided by age/sex classes based on observations of the
largest habituated group at Xiangguqing in Baimaxueshan Nature Reserve. This
study was conducted from June 2008 to May 2009. We found that adult females
spent more time feeding (44.8%) than adult males (39.5%), juveniles (39.1%),
and infants (14.2%). Adult males allocated more time to miscellaneous
activities (12.5%) than did adult females (3.8%). Infants were being groomed
6.9% of the time, which was the highest proportion among all age/sex classes.
Adults spent more time feeding, while immature individuals allocated more
time to moving and other activities. There are several reasons activity
budgets may vary by age/sex class: 1) differential reproductive investment
between males and females; 2) developmental differences among the age
categories; 3) social relationships between members of different age/sex
classes, particularly dominance. In addition, group size and adult sex ratio
may also impact activity budgets. These variations in activity budgets among
the different age/sex classes may become a selective pressure that shapes the
development and growth pattern in this species.

 This article has been retracted. Link to the retraction 10.2298/ABS160112009E
Polyphenols and antioxidant activities of Kombucha beverage enriched with Coffeeberry® extract
Authors: Essawet Najmi , Cvetkovic Dragoljub , Velicanski Aleksandra , Canadanovic-Brunet Jasna , Vulic Jelena , Maksimovic Vuk , Markov Sinisa
Published: December 2014

Kombucha is a traditional beverage obtained by fermenting sweetened black tea
with tea fungus, which represents a consortium of acetic acid bacteria and
yeasts. Also, CoffeeBerry? products, which derived from the whole fruit of
the coffee plant, are valuable ingredients with nutritional and
health-enhancing potential. Samples of fermentation broths enriched with
CoffeeBerry? extract and traditional Kombucha were analysed. The
fermentation was performed in a bioreactor at 28?1?C for nine days. The
results showed that the CoffeeBerry? extract has contributed to a faster
fermentation of cultivation medium. Some individual polyphenolic compounds
and catehins in fermentation broth samples were identified and quantified by
High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Among the bioactive compounds
present in investigated samples obtained during Kombucha fermentation of the
sweetened black tea enriched with CoffeeBerry? extract, chlorogenic acid
(188.94-458.56 ?g/mL) was the predominant. The antioxidant activity of
investigated samples was tested by measuring their ability to scavenge DPPH
and reactive hydroxyl radicals by electron spin resonance (ESR)
spectroscopy. The scavenging activities on DPPH and hydroxyl radicals were
increased with duration of fermentation. IC50 values for Kombucha
fermentation broth enriched with CoffeBerry?, based on DPPH and hydroxyl
radical scavenging activities, were in the range 26.33-170.13 ?L/mL and
11.33-102.22 ?L/mL, respectively.
The Individual and the Nation in Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o’s Early Writing
Authors: Hevešiová Simona
Published: December 2014

In its essence, postcolonial literature evolved as an opposition to colonial discourse and ideological representation of the colonized subject inherent in colonial narratives. Springing out of the need to reconceptualize and reconstitute their communities, postcolonial writers often addressed the pressing historical and political issues of that time in their writing. In its early stages, postcolonial literature was therefore often marked by a strong sense of nationalism, interweaving fictional stories with the public narrative of pre-independence ideology. The paper seeks to explore the border between the public and the private in the early novels of the Kenyan writer Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o. Just as his contemporaries in other colonized countries, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o tends to utilize literature as a powerful tool for raising national awareness. The pre-independence period, in which Ngũgĩ’s novels are set, is marked by a certain degree of romanticism and idealism, yet there is also an underlying sense of doom. Drawing on the cultural roots and mythology of his community, the writer steers his narrative in the direction of a larger, public discourse, suggesting that “the individual finds the fullest development of his personality when he is working in and for the community as a whole”. Therefore, the public/private dichotomy stands at the very centre of his writing, proving the rootedness of the individual in the public space.
Imaginative Communities: The Role, Practice and Outreach of Community–Based Theatre
Authors: Lacko Ivan
Published: December 2014

In recent years, the artistic representation of communities (e.g. in community-based theatres) has found its source in the realm of the imagination (documentary drama, verbatim theatre, post-dramatic performance, etc.), addressing issues that are important and relevant not only for the communities themselves but also for the wider society. In this presentation I will use Zygmunt Bauman’s notion of the “seductive lightness of being” - or the transitory nature of our virtual experience - to talk about the role of selected community-based theatres in the United States and about their imaginative depiction and discussion of issues which are of vital importance for any community: identity, the personal vs. the political, a sense of belonging, progressiveness, social awareness and the capability of coexistence.
“Because Slovaks are the best people in the world and the Slovak language is the most beautiful language in the world”: Defamiliarising the Slovak “Imagined Community” in Samko Tále’s Cemetery Book
Authors: Sriratana Verita
Published: December 2014

National identity and language have been understood to be inseparable. This claim is supported by the history of the Slovak language, notably the codification attempts made by Anton Bernolák and Ľudovít Štúr as part of the Slovak National Revival Movement. National community tends to be perceived as being defined and categorized by a unified language, or by a homogenous grammar and lexicon shared equally among the community members. This concept of speech-national communities, I propose, is deconstructed in Daniela Kapitáňová’s Samko Tále’s Cemetery Book (Kniha o cintoríne), published in Slovak in 2000 and translated into English by Julia Sherwood in 2010. Through Samko’s pedantic engagement in Aristotelian categorization of knowledge, in his obsessive attempt to illustrate his (antilogical) logic of what it means to be a Slovak and to be part of a community which has gone through dramatic changes in history, tenets and beliefs which are unquestioningly accepted as truth are mercilessly defamiliarized, or “made strange”. Samko Tále’s Cemetery Book corresponds with Benedict Anderson’s notion of human communities as imagined entities in which people “will never know most of their fellow-members, meet them or even hear of them, yet in the minds of each lives the image of their communion”.
Metric Perspectives of the Ricci Flow Appliedto Disjoint Unions
Authors: Lakzian Sajjad , Munn Michael
Published: December 2014

In this paper we consider compact, Riemannian manifolds M1, M2 each equipped with a oneparameterfamily of metrics g1(t), g2(t) satisfying the Ricci flow equation. Adopting the characterization ofsuper-solutions to the Ricci flow developed by McCann-Topping, we define a super Ricci flow for a family ofdistance metrics defined on the disjoint union M1 ⊔ M2. In particular, we show such a super Ricci flow propertyholds provided the distance function between points in M1 and M2 is itself a super solution of the heatequation on M1 × M2. We also discuss possible applications and examples.
Uniformly Convex Metric Spaces
Authors: Kell Martin
Published: December 2014

In this paper the theory of uniformly convex metric spaces is developed. These spaces exhibit ageneralized convexity of the metric from a fixed point. Using a (nearly) uniform convexity property a simpleproof of reflexivity is presented and a weak topology of such spaces is analyzed. This topology, called coconvextopology, agrees with the usually weak topology in Banach spaces. An example of a CAT(0)-spacewith weak topology which is not Hausdorff is given.In the end existence and uniqueness of generalized barycenters is shown, an application to isometric groupactions is given and a Banach-Saks property is proved.
Genetic Structure Analysis of Tatra Shepherd Dog Population From Tatra Mountain Region
Authors: Kania-Gierdziewicz Joanna , Gierdziewicz Maciej , Budzyński Bartłomiej
Published: December 2014

The aim of the work was to analyze the genetic structure of the population of Tatra Shepherd dogs, registered in branches of Polish Kennel Club from Tatra Mountain Region. Data were pedigrees of 102 Tatra Shepherd dogs (33 males and 69 females) born between 1994 and 2011. Inbreeding and relationship coefficients, as well as effective number of founders and ancestors, were calculated. These statistics give the picture of genetic diversity of the population. Average inbreeding coefficient was 7.17%, whereas average relationship coefficient was 18.20%. The number of inbred animals and the mean FX values steadily increased over time. Twenty-six of 80 inbred animals had inbreeding coefficients higher than 10%. The effective number of founders was relatively high in relation to the population size (the effective number of ancestors was four times lower) and both were similar to the results of studies of other authors on different dog breeds. The total contribution of only 4 ancestors was enough to explain 50% of the gene pool of the population. Therefore, mating of related animals should be avoided in order to prevent the further increase of inbreeding level, because almost all Polish and foreign Tatra Shepherd dogs living now originate from the population under study.
Generalized Jensen functional equation on restricted domain
Authors: Chahbi Abdellatif , Almahalebi Muaadh , Chari Ahmed , Kabbaj Samir
Published: December 2014

We prove the Hyers-Ulam stability on restricted domains of generalized Jensen functional equation

where
On Uniform Exponential Trichotomy in Banach Spaces
Authors: Kovacs Monteola Ilona
Published: December 2014

In this paper we consider three concepts of uniform exponential trichotomy on the half-line in the general framework of evolution operators in Banach spaces. We obtain a systematic classification of uniform exponential trichotomy concepts and the connections between them.
Applications of the H-reflex in kinesiology: a systematic review
Authors: Gajos Agnieszka , Kujawski Sławomir , Gajos Małgorzata , Chatys Żaneta , Bogacki Piotr
Published: December 2014

Study aim: discussion of applications of H-reflex in kinesiology.

Material and methods: used keywords H-reflex, Hoffmann reflex, kinesiology, EMG, biomechanics, orthopaedics, rehabilitation, and sports medicine to search EBSCO database. Used subsequent results to analyse clinical trials and to review articles.

Results: in many studies, authors describe the role of examining H-reflex in biomechanics, orthopaedics, rehabilitation, and sports medicine.

Conclusions: the H-reflex seems to be useful for examining progress in orthopaedic and physiotherapy treatment, as well as for analysing aspects of biomechanics. However, it seems that the H-reflex has limitations as a tool for examining training progress in strength athletes, and is not the most efficient in endurance athletes.
The H-reflex modulation in lying and standing positions in young canoeists
Authors: Mazur–Różycka Joanna , Gajewski Jan , Buśko Krzysztof , Michalski Radosław , Łach Patrycja
Published: December 2014

Study aim: to evaluate the differences in H-reflex parameters in lying and standing positions in canoeists.

Material and methods: twenty seven male canoeists (age 17.2 ± 1.6 year, body mass 73.7 ± 7.6 kg, height 180.9 ± 6.1 cm, training experience 6.5 ± 3.6 years) participated in the study. None of the subjects had any history of neuromuscular disorders. The soleus H-reflex was examined in each subject twice: in lying and standing position. H-reflex was elicited by one-millisecond electrical stimulation of a posterior tibial nerve in the popliteal fossa. A recruitment curve for each subject was obtained by gradually increasing the stimulus intensity.

Results: the results obtained in the present study showed statistically significant differences of the variables characterising effects of stimulations performed in lying and standing positions (F4,23 = 8.063; p < 0.001). H/M ratio was 0.50 ± 0.25 and 0.64 ± 0.27 for lying and standing positions, respectively. Our results support previous findings.

Conclusions: the lying position is recommended for measurements as more comfortable for subjects and providing a greater level of the elicited H-reflex.
Family Physicians’ Management of Genetic Aspects of a Cardiac Disease: A Scenario-Based Study from Slovenia
Authors: Z. Klemenc-Ketiš , B. Peterlin
Published: December 2014

The aim of this study was to find out how Slovenian family physicians (FPs) would manage a hypothetical clinical case, to explore their views about possible ethical dilemmas associated with this clinical case and to determine possible associations with demographic and other characteristics of FPs. This was an observational cross-sectional postal study in the Slovenian FPs’ surgeries. The study population consisted of the whole population of Slovenian FPs (n = 950). The main outcome measures were the percentages of the answers of FPs on different questions about the clinical case on the management of patient and his relative with hereditary cardiomyopathy. There were 271 FPs who answered the questionnaire (response rate was 27.1%). A sample included 66 (24.4%) men and the mean age of all respondents was 45.5 ± 10.6 years. When dealing with the clinical case, most FPs expressed willingness to take the patient’s family history. Only 34.2% FPs did not believe that ordering genetic tests was part of their job. Additionally, only 50.0% of them felt competent to interpret the genetic risk, 25.0% of them would give information about genetic testing and only 6.0% would interpret the results of the genetic testing. Family physicians in Slovenia were willing to include genetic tasks into routine management of their patients, but they do not feel competent enough to interpret the genetic risks and the results of genetic testing. However, an important part of FPs would not refer patients at risk to genetic counseling. The inclusion of genetic topics to family medicine specialization curriculum is needed.
Phenotypic Variations in Wolfhirschhorn Syndrome
Authors: E. Sukarova-Angelovska , M. Kocova , V. Sabolich , S. Palcevska , N. Angelkova
Published: December 2014

Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) is a rare chromosomal disorder caused by terminal deletion of the short arm of chromosome 4. The clinical picture includes growth retardation, severe mental retardation, characteristic “Greek helmet” like face, seizures and midline defects in the brain, heart, palate and genitalia. Recently-used molecular techniques increase the number of diagnosed cases due to the detection of smaller deletions. The severity of the clinical presentation is variable depending on the haploinsufficiency of genes in a deleted region.

We present six children with WHS with variable clinical appearance. The assessment of several elements (facial dysmorphism, mental retardation, additional congenital anomalies) provided classification into minor, mild or severe forms. Three of the children had a visible cytogenetic deletion on chromosome 4p, two had microdeletions detected with fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), and one child with a less characteristic clinical picture had a mosaic type of the deletion. Correlation between the clinical presentation and the length of the deleted region was confirmed.
On the existence of neutral directions of the normal gravity field
Authors: Manoussakis Gerassimos , Milas Paraskevas
Published: December 2014

A neutral direction of a gravity field is a direction along which the components of the gravity vector remain locally unchanged. A neutral point is a point at which there exists a neutral direction. This research will focus on the neutral directions for the normal gravity vector. The necessary condition for the existence of neutral directions at an arbitrary point P above the ellipsoid is that the determinant of the E¨otv¨os matrix must be equal to zero. The slopes of these directions depend on the value of the principal curvatures and the curvature of the plumbline. In all cases the neutral directions lie on the meridian plane at point P. An interesting case is when the vertical gradient of normal gravity is equal to zero. Finally in the last two paragraphs we show that neutral points are not isolated in the three dimensional space and give a numerical example for the case of a spherical gravity field.
Geophysical survey of Neovolcanic complexes in the first protection zone of the Sliač Spa and the Baková jama
Authors: Pašiaková Mariana , Gajdoš Vojtech , Bučová Jana , Dérerová Jana , Straka Adam , Hlav̌nová Petra , Brixová Bibiana
Published: December 2014

The main purpose of the survey in the 1st protection zone area of the Sliač Spa and the Baková jama was to clarify the geological-tectonical structure. The vertical electric sounding (VES) technique was selected as the main geophysical survey method. Additionally, the soil radon emanometry was carried out to verify tectonic lines’ presence. The outcrop of Pre-Tertiary basement was discovered in the form of small isolated island. No tectonic line was identified based on the evaluation of profile radon concentration. The results of geoelectrical measurements are presented in 8 geological-geophysical crosssections. The results and the tectonic lines’ courses interpreted by the VES method are drawn in the map of new indications. The isoline maps and 3D model of Pre-Tertiary basement were constructed.
Ulam Stabilities for the Darboux Problem for Partial Fractional Differential Inclusions
Authors: Abbas Saïd , Benchohra Mouffak
Published: December 2014

In this article, we investigate some Ulam’s type stability concepts for the Darboux problem of partial fractional differential inclusions with a nonconvex valued right hand side. Our results are based upon Covitz-Nadler fixed point theorem and fractional version of Gronwall’s inequality.
On the Coefficient Problem of Meromorphic Harmonic Mappings
Authors: Widomski Jarosław
Published: December 2014

In this paper, we shall study estimates for the coefficients an, n = 1,2 of a class of univalent harmonic mappings defined on the exterior of the unit disk Ũ = { z : |z| > 1 }, which keep infinity fixed. For this purpose, we apply Faber polynomials and an inequality of the Grunsky type.
On Some Qualitative Properties of Mild Solutions of Nonlocal Semilinear Functional Differential Equations
Authors: Jain Rupali S. , Dhakne M. B.
Published: December 2014

In the present paper, we investigate the qualitative properties such as existence, uniqueness and continuous dependence on initial data of mild solutions of first and second order nonlocal semilinear functional differential equations with delay in Banach spaces. Our analysis is based on semigroup theory and modified version of Banach contraction theorem.
Approximation of Conjugate Functions by General Linear Operators of Their Fourier Series at the Lebesgue Points
Authors: Łenski Włodzimierz , Szal Bogdan
Published: December 2014

The pointwise estimates of the deviations r T͂n,A,Bf (·) - f͂͂ (·) and T͂n,A,Bf (·) - f͂͂ (·,ε) in terms of moduli of continuity ω̃f and r ω̃f are proved. Analogical results on norm approximation with remarks and corollary are also given. These results generalized a theorem of Mittal [3, Theorem 1, p. 437].
Numerical Radius Inequalities for Finite Sums of Operators
Authors: Mirmostafaee Alireza Kamel , Rahpeyma Omid Pourbahari , Omidvar Mohsen Erfanian
Published: December 2014

In this paper, we obtain some sharp inequalities for numerical radius of finite sums of operators. Moreover, we give some applications of our result in estimation of spectral radius. We also compare our results with some known results.
A General Coincidence and Common Fixed Point Theorem for two Hybrid Pairs of Mappings
Authors: Valeriu Popa
Published: December 2014

In this paper, a general coincidence and common fixed points theorem for two hybrid pairs of mappings satisfying property (E.A) is proved, generalizing the main results from [3] and [9].
Forecasting Changes in Stock Prices on the Basis of Patterns Identified with the Use of Data Classification Methods
Authors: Szanduła Jacek
Published: December 2014

The paper develops the concept of harnessing data classification methods to recognize patterns in stock prices. The author defines a formation as a pattern vector describing the financial instrument. Elements of such a vector can be related to the stock price as well as sales volume and other characteristics of the financial instrument. The study uses data concerning selected companies listed on the stock exchange in New York. It takes into account a number of variables that describe the behavior of prices and volume, both in the short and long term. Partitioning around medoids method has been used for data classification (for pattern recognition). An evaluation of the possibility of using certain formations for practical purposes has also been presented.
A Comparison of Tail Behaviour of Stock Market Returns
Authors: Echaust Krzysztof
Published: December 2014

Most investors believe that left tails of the stock returns distribution are heavier than the right ones. It is a natural consequence of crashes perception as much more turbulent than the booms. Crashes develop in shorter time intervals than booms and changes of prices are significantly bigger. This paper focuses on the extreme behavior of stock market returns. The differences in the tails thickness of distribution are negligible. Its main result is that the differences between tails have been found in the clustering of extremes, especially during the crash of 2007-2009.
Different Variants of Fundamental Portfolio
Authors: Tarczyński Waldemar
Published: December 2014

The paper proposes the fundamental portfolio of securities. This portfolio is an alternative for the classic Markowitz model, which combines fundamental analysis with portfolio analysis. The method’s main idea is based on the use of the TMAI1 synthetic measure and, in limiting conditions, the use of risk and the portfolio’s rate of return in the objective function. Different variants of fundamental portfolio have been considered under an empirical study. The effectiveness of the proposed solutions has been related to the classic portfolio constructed with the help of the Markowitz model and the WIG20 market index’s rate of return. All portfolios were constructed with data on rates of return for 2005. Their effectiveness in 2006- 2013 was then evaluated. The studied period comprises the end of the bull market, the 2007-2009 crisis, the 2010 bull market and the 2011 crisis. This allows for the evaluation of the solutions’ flexibility in various extreme situations. For the construction of the fundamental portfolio’s objective function and the TMAI, the study made use of financial and economic data on selected indicators retrieved from Notoria Serwis for 2005.
Income from Women’s Gainful Employment Compared to Household Income
Authors: Ulman Paweł
Published: December 2014

Various statistical analyses reveal that the position of women in the labour market is worse when compared to men. In the majority, or nearly in all countries of the EU, women obtain lower income than men and are in a greater risk of becoming unemployed. The problem of such differentiation in the labour market is still valid despite the various activities at the EU agenda aimed at reducing these disparities. The aim of this paper was to present the income situation of women who remain in a formal or informal relationship with men and to identify the factors which affect such a situation without making any reference to the problem of discrimination. The author used the data from Polish household budget survey of 2011.
In Search of Motivation for the Business Survey Response Task
Authors: Torres van Grinsven Vanessa , Bolko Irena , Bavdaž Mojca
Published: December 2014

Increasing reluctance of businesses to participate in surveys often leads to declining or low response rates, poor data quality and burden complaints, and suggests that a driving force, that is, the motivation for participation and accurate and timely response, is insufficient or lacking. Inspiration for ways to remedy this situation has already been sought in the psychological theory of self-determination; previous research has favored enhancement of intrinsic motivation compared to extrinsic motivation. Traditionally however, enhancing extrinsic motivation has been pervasive in business surveys. We therefore review this theory in the context of business surveys using empirical data from the Netherlands and Slovenia, and suggest that extrinsic motivation calls for at least as much attention as intrinsic motivation, that other sources of motivation may be relevant besides those stemming from the three fundamental psychological needs (competence, autonomy and relatedness), and that other approaches may have the potential to better explain some aspects of motivation in business surveys (e.g., implicit motives). We conclude with suggestions that survey organizations can consider when attempting to improve business survey response behavior.
An Adaptive Data Collection Procedure for Call Prioritization
Authors: Beaumont Jean-Francois , Bocci Cynthia , Haziza David
Published: December 2014

We propose an adaptive data collection procedure for call prioritization in the context of computer-assisted telephone interview surveys. Our procedure is adaptive in the sense that the effort assigned to a sample unit may vary from one unit to another and may also vary during data collection. The goal of an adaptive procedure is usually to increase quality for a given cost or, alternatively, to reduce cost for a given quality. The quality criterion often considered in the literature is the nonresponse bias of an estimator that is not adjusted for nonresponse. Although the reduction of the nonresponse bias is a desirable goal, we argue that it is not a useful criterion to use at the data collection stage of a survey because the bias that can be removed at this stage through an adaptive collection procedure can also be removed at the estimation stage through appropriate nonresponse weight adjustments. Instead, we develop a procedure of call prioritization that, given the selected sample, attempts to minimize the conditional variance of a nonresponse-adjusted estimator subject to an overall budget constraint. We evaluate the performance of our procedure in a simulation study.
Does the Length of Fielding Period Matter? Examining Response Scores of Early Versus Late Responders
Authors: Sigman Richard , Lewis Taylor , Yount Naomi Dyer , Lee Kimya
Published: December 2014

This article discusses the potential effects of a shortened fielding period on an employee survey’s item and index scores and respondent demographics. Using data from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s 2011 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, we investigate whether early responding employees differ from later responding employees. Specifically, we examine differences in item and index scores related to employee engagement and global satisfaction. Our findings show that early responders tend to be less positive, even after adjusting their weights for nonresponse. Agencies vary in their prevalence of late responders, and score differences become magnified as this proportion increases. We also examine the extent to which early versus late responders differ on demographic characteristics such as grade level, supervisory status, gender, tenure with agency, and intention to leave, noting that nonminorities and females are the two demographic characteristics most associated with responding early.
The Impact of Sampling Designs on Small Area Estimates for Business Data
Authors: Burgard Jan Pablo , Münnich Ralf , Zimmermann Thomas
Published: December 2014

Evidence-based policy making and economic decision making rely on accurate business information on a national level and increasingly also on smaller regions and business classes. In general, traditional design-based methods suffer from low accuracy in the case of very small sample sizes in certain subgroups, whereas model-based methods, such as small area techniques, heavily rely on strong statistical models.

In small area applications in business statistics, two major issues may occur. First, in many countries business registers do not deliver strong auxiliary information for adequate model building. Second, sampling designs in business surveys are generally nonignorable and contain a large variation of survey weights.

The present study focuses on the performance of small area point and accuracy estimates of business statistics under different sampling designs. Different strategies of including sampling design information in the models are discussed. A design-based Monte Carlo simulation study unveils the impact of the variability of design weights and different levels of aggregation on model- versus design-based estimation methods. This study is based on a close to reality data set generated from Italian business data.
Analytic Tools for Evaluating Variability of Standard Errors in Large-Scale Establishment Surveys
Authors: Cho MoonJung , Eltinge John L. , Gershunskaya Julie , Huff Larry
Published: December 2014

Large-scale establishment surveys often exhibit substantial temporal or cross-sectional variability in their published standard errors. This article uses a framework defined by survey generalized variance functions to develop three sets of analytic tools for the evaluation of these patterns of variability. These tools are for (1) identification of predictor variables that explain some of the observed temporal and cross-sectional variability in published standard errors; (2) evaluation of the proportion of variability attributable to the abovementioned predictors, equation error and estimation error, respectively; and (3) comparison of equation error variances across groups defined by observable predictor variables. The primary ideas are motivated and illustrated by an application to the U.S. Current Employment Statistics program.
Data Smearing: An Approach to Disclosure Limitation for Tabular Data
Authors: Toth Daniell
Published: December 2014

Statistical agencies often collect sensitive data for release to the public at aggregated levels in the form of tables. To protect confidential data, some cells are suppressed in the publicly released data. One problem with this method is that many cells of interest must be suppressed in order to protect a much smaller number of sensitive cells. Another problem is that the covariates used to aggregate and level of aggregation must be fixed before the data is released. Both of these restrictions can severely limit the utility of the data. We propose a new disclosure limitation method that replaces the full set of microdata with synthetic data for use in producing released data in tabular form. This synthetic data set is obtained by replacing each unit’s values with a weighted average of sampled values from the surrounding area. The synthetic data is produced in a way to give asymptotically unbiased estimates for aggregate cells as the number of units in the cell increases. The method is applied to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages data, which is released to the public quarterly in tabular form and aggregated across varying scales of time, area, and economic sector.
Genetically identical co-housed pigs as models for dietary studies of gut microbiomes
Authors: Yang Fang , Chia Nicholas , Mazur Meredith , Pettigrew James , Schook Lawrence B. , White Bryan A.
Published: December 2014

The impact of diet on the microbial composition in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) has been well documented. However, quantifying the role of the diet in shaping microbial composition in humans has been difficult due to the influence of host genetics and the environment. To test the influence of diets on the GIT microbiome independently of host genotype and environment, two genetically identical co-housed pigs were used in an A-B-A-B design across four 14-day periods using two distinct diets that differed in dietary fiber source, soybean hulls or wheat bran. Shifts in fecal microbiomes were assessed with respect to dietary changes by 454-pyrosequencing analysis using the V3 region of the 16S rRNA genes. Similarity analysis revealed that the GIT microbiome distinctly clustered by diets rather than by individual. Diversity analysis showed that the diet fed had an influence on GIT microbiome diversity, which was host specific. While many bacterial taxa and KEGG orthologs reacted similarly to switches in diet, some bacterial taxa and KEGG orthologs reacted differentially in each of the pigs. While diet changed the GIT microbiome composition of isogenic co-housed pigs, inter-individual variations from epigenetics were not entirely eliminated by the use of cloned pigs.
Nano sized carbonized waste biomass for heavy metal ion remediation
Authors: Mahajan Garima , Sud Dhiraj
Published: December 2014

Utilization of agricultural waste material with approach to enhance the heavy metal remediation properties by carbonizing the biomass at nano size particles has been explored in present investigation from aqueous solutions. In this study the lignocellulosic, nitrogenous agricultural waste biomass Delbergia sissoo pods (DSP) has been tried for sequestering of Cd (II), Pb (II) and Ni (II) metal ions from aqueous solutions. Batch experiments were performed for removal of targeted metal ions keeping in consideration the preliminary affecting parameters such as effect of adsorption dose, pH, initial metal ion concentration, stirring speed and contact time. The sorption studies were analyzed by using, Freundlic isotherm and Langmuir isotherm models. The kinetics of the process was evaluated by pseudo pseudo-first order and pseudo second order kinetic models. Studies reveal that the equilibrium was achieved with in 30 min of the contact time at optimized parameters. Analytical studies of biosorbent were done by means of FT-IR, SEM and XRD. Desorption experiments were carried out using HCl solution with a view to regenerate the spent adsorbent and to recover the adsorbed metal ions.
Modification of Salix americana willow bark for removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions
Authors: Rypińska Iwona , Biegańska Marta
Published: December 2014

Salix americana willow bark is a waste arising in the process of wicker decortication that so far has not found any practical application. The bark can adsorb metal ions, because in its composition among others are phenolic groups which may be involved in the removal of metal ions from water solutions. The results of sorption of copper(II) and zinc(II) on modified willow bark of Salix americana were presented. The bark was modified with nitric and sulfuric acids at concentrations ranging from 5 to 15%. The best adsorption results were obtained using 15% nitric acid for modification. Adsorption of metal ions from aqueous solutions at concentrations raging from 20 to 100 mg/dm3 was studied. It was found that an increase in the initial concentration of copper(II) and zinc(II) resulted in an increase in their adsorption on the modified cortex.
Time requirements in closed and open batch distillation arrangements for separation of a binary mixture
Authors: Zhao Shuo , Bai Peng , Guo Xianghai , Tang Ke , Li Guangzhong
Published: December 2014

Batch time requirements are provided for the separation of binary zeotropic mixtures in two different multivessel columns (with and without vapor bypass), a non-cyclic two-vessel column and a regular batch column based on dynamic simulations. The first three columns are operated as closed (total reflux) systems and the regular batch column is operated as an open (partial reflux) system. We analyze the effects of feed composition, relative volatility and product specification on the time requirements. The multivessel arrangements perform better than the regular batch column, which requires from 4.00 to 34.67% more time to complete a given separation. The elimination of the vapor bypass in the multivessel column is impractical though it has a positive effect on the batch time requirements. Thus, the multivessel column, with the vapor stream bypassing the intermediate vessel, is proposed as the best candidate for a binary zeotropic mixture with low concentration of light component, low relative volatility and high product purity demand. Furthermore, an experimental multivessel column with vapor bypass is built and the corresponding experiments verify the simulations.
A digital photography protocol for the rapid assessment of herbaceous communities in riparian buffers
Authors: Bonin Laurianne , Proulx Raphaël , Rheault Guillaume
Published: December 2014

Close-range digital photography is a promising tool for monitoring plant communities, yet this technology has not been used to indicate changes to the compositional and functional characteristics of riparian vegetation buffers in agro-ecosystems. We tested a photographic protocol using image indices to monitor differences in the compositional (species diversity) and functional characteristics (plant height, flowering and leaf traits) of 28 herbaceous communities repeatedly surveyed over an entire growing season. Specifically, we used known vegetation properties to predict image texture and geometric patterns. Our results revealed that image texture decreased with increasing plant height, leaf polyphenol content and species diversity. Low texture values in close-range digital images were typically found in tall, flowering, and functionally diversified assemblages consisting mostly of forbs species. In contrast, species assemblages dominated by grasses or sedges presented more random geometric patterns and images with higher texture values. Further tests of this photographic protocol will have to explore other image indices and extend its application to other ecosystems.
Determinant evaluations for binary circulant matrices
Authors: Kravvaritis Christos
Published: December 2014

Determinant formulas for special binary circulant matrices are derived and a new open problemregarding the possible determinant values of these specific circulant matrices is stated. The ideas used forthe proofs can be utilized to obtain more determinant formulas for other binary circulant matrices, too. Thesuperiority of the proposed approach over the standard method for calculating the determinant of a generalcirculant matrix is demonstrated.
Rings Graded By a Generalized Group
Authors: Fatehi Farzad , Molaei Mohammad Reza
Published: December 2014

The aim of this paper is to consider the ringswhich can be graded by completely simple semigroups.We show that each G-graded ring has an orthonormal basis, where G is a completely simple semigroup. Weprove that if I is a complete homogeneous ideal of a G-graded ring R, then R/I is a G-graded ring.We deducea characterization of the maximal ideals of a G-graded ring which are homogeneous. We also prove that if Ris a Noetherian graded ring, then each summand of it is also a Noetherian module..
Balance Training Using an iPhone Application in People With Familial Dysautonomia: Three Case Reports
Authors: Gefen Rosalee , Dunsky Ayelet , Hutzler Yeshayahu
Published: December 2014

Background and Purpose

Familial dysautonomia (FD) is a rare genetic autosomal recessive disease that impairs vital functions and causes neural and motor deficiency. These motor deficits often are characterized by static and dynamic instability and an ataxic gait. As a result, people with FD are at risk for significant physical impairment and falls and pose unique challenges for delivering rehabilitation exercise. Consequently, there is a need for challenging ways to safely and feasibly deliver active exercise rehabilitation to these individuals.

Case Description

This case report describes 3 people with FD (ages 11, 12, and 22 years) with gait and stability problems who attended rehabilitation exercises augmented by the use of an iPhone application specifically developed for the program.

Outcomes

The Berg Balance Scale and the Four Square Step Test were conducted prior to training, after training, and after 2 months of follow-up without training. Two patients showed improvements on both measures at the posttest, which were maintained throughout follow-up testing.

Discussion

Although greater experience is needed to more fully evaluate the efficiency of the iPhone application used in this program for people with FD, the results of these initial cases are encouraging. Systematically and prospectively tracking motor abilities and other functional outcomes during rehabilitation of individuals with FD who use the suggested application in balance training is recommended in order to provide greater evidence in this area.