Information collection budget of the United States government.

Description based on: Fiscal year 1984.

Information resources management plan of the federal government.

Mode of access: Internet.

Information bulletin.

Title from caption.

Materials for Placebo V.

Research supported by the National Institutes of Health under Agreement NB-05613-01.

Is China's manufacturing sector becoming more high-tech? Evidence on shifts in comparative advantage, 1987-2005

Purpose – The paper assesses the extent to which China’s comparative advantage in manufacturing has shifted towards higher-tech sectors between 1987 and 2005 and proposes possible explanations for the shift. Design/methodology/approach – Revealed comparative advantage (RCA) indices for 27 product groups, representing high-, medium and low-tech sectors have been calculated. Examination of international market attractiveness complements the RCA analysis. Findings for selected sectors are evaluated in the context of other evidence. Findings – While China maintains its competitiveness in low-tech labour intensive products, it has gained RCA in selected medium-tech sectors (e.g. office machines and electric machinery) and the high-tech telecommunications and automatic data processing equipment sectors. Evidence from firm and sector specific studies suggests that improved comparative advantage in medium and high-tech sectors is based on capabilities developing through combining international technology transfer and learning. Research limitations/implications – The quantitative analysis does not explain the shifts in comparative advantage, though the paper suggests possible explanations. Further research at firm and sector levels is required to understand the underlying capability development of Chinese enterprises and the relative competitiveness of Chinese and foreign invested enterprises. Practical implications – Western companies should take account of capability development in China in forming their international manufacturing strategies. The rapid shifts in China’s comparative advantage have lessons for other industrialising countries. Originality/value – While RCA is a well-known methodology, its application at the disaggregated product group level combined with market attractiveness assessment is distinctive. The paper provides a broad assessment of changes in Chinese manufacturing as a basis for further research on capability development at firm and sector levels.

A novel near real-time quality-control procedure for radiometric profiles measured by Bio-Argo floats: protocols and performances

An array of Bio-Argo floats equipped with radiometric sensors has been recently deployed in various open ocean areas representative of the diversity of trophic and bio-optical conditions prevailing in the so-called Case 1 waters. Around solar noon and almost everyday, each float acquires 0-250 m vertical profiles of Photosynthetically Available Radiation and downward irradiance at three wavelengths (380, 412 and 490 nm). Up until now, more than 6500 profiles for each radiometric channel have been acquired. As these radiometric data are collected out of operator’s control and regardless of meteorological conditions, specific and automatic data processing protocols have to be developed. Here, we present a data quality-control procedure aimed at verifying profile shapes and providing near real-time data distribution. This procedure is specifically developed to: 1) identify main issues of measurements (i.e. dark signal, atmospheric clouds, spikes and wave-focusing occurrences); 2) validate the final data with a hierarchy of tests to ensure a scientific utilization. The procedure, adapted to each of the four radiometric channels, is designed to flag each profile in a way compliant with the data management procedure used by the Argo program. Main perturbations in the light field are identified by the new protocols with good performances over the whole dataset. This highlights its potential applicability at the global scale. Finally, the comparison with modeled surface irradiances allows assessing the accuracy of quality-controlled measured irradiance values and identifying any possible evolution over the float lifetime due to biofouling and instrumental drift.

A novel near real-time quality-control procedure for radiometric profiles measured by Bio-Argo floats: protocols and performances

An array of Bio-Argo floats equipped with radiometric sensors has been recently deployed in various open ocean areas representative of the diversity of trophic and bio-optical conditions prevailing in the so-called Case 1 waters. Around solar noon and almost everyday, each float acquires 0-250 m vertical profiles of Photosynthetically Available Radiation and downward irradiance at three wavelengths (380, 412 and 490 nm). Up until now, more than 6500 profiles for each radiometric channel have been acquired. As these radiometric data are collected out of operator’s control and regardless of meteorological conditions, specific and automatic data processing protocols have to be developed. Here, we present a data quality-control procedure aimed at verifying profile shapes and providing near real-time data distribution. This procedure is specifically developed to: 1) identify main issues of measurements (i.e. dark signal, atmospheric clouds, spikes and wave-focusing occurrences); 2) validate the final data with a hierarchy of tests to ensure a scientific utilization. The procedure, adapted to each of the four radiometric channels, is designed to flag each profile in a way compliant with the data management procedure used by the Argo program. Main perturbations in the light field are identified by the new protocols with good performances over the whole dataset. This highlights its potential applicability at the global scale. Finally, the comparison with modeled surface irradiances allows assessing the accuracy of quality-controlled measured irradiance values and identifying any possible evolution over the float lifetime due to biofouling and instrumental drift.

The Antibiotic Resistance and Prescribing in European Children Project: A Neonatal and Pediatric Antimicrobial Web-based Point Prevalence Survey in 73 Hospitals Worldwide

BACKGROUND: The neonatal and pediatric antimicrobial point prevalence survey (PPS) of the Antibiotic Resistance and Prescribing in European Children project (http://www.arpecproject.eu/) aims to standardize a method for surveillance of antimicrobial use in children and neonates admitted to the hospital within Europe. This article describes the audit criteria used and reports overall country-specific proportions of antimicrobial use. An analytical review presents methodologies on antimicrobial use.

METHODS: A 1-day PPS on antimicrobial use in hospitalized children was organized in September 2011, using a previously validated and standardized method. The survey included all inpatient pediatric and neonatal beds and identified all children receiving an antimicrobial treatment on the day of survey. Mandatory data were age, gender, (birth) weight, underlying diagnosis, antimicrobial agent, dose and indication for treatment. Data were entered through a web-based system for data-entry and reporting, based on the WebPPS program developed for the European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption project.

RESULTS: There were 2760 and 1565 pediatric versus 1154 and 589 neonatal inpatients reported among 50 European (n = 14 countries) and 23 non-European hospitals (n = 9 countries), respectively. Overall, antibiotic pediatric and neonatal use was significantly higher in non-European (43.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 41.3-46.3% and 39.4%; 95% CI: 35.5-43.4%) compared with that in European hospitals (35.4; 95% CI: 33.6-37.2% and 21.8%; 95% CI: 19.4-24.2%). Proportions of antibiotic use were highest in hematology/oncology wards (61.3%; 95% CI: 56.2-66.4%) and pediatric intensive care units (55.8%; 95% CI: 50.3-61.3%).

CONCLUSIONS: An Antibiotic Resistance and Prescribing in European Children standardized web-based method for a 1-day PPS was successfully developed and conducted in 73 hospitals worldwide. It offers a simple, feasible and sustainable way of data collection that can be used globally.

Event-related brain potentials dissociate the developmental time-course of automatic numerical magnitude analysis and cognitive control functions during the first three years of primary school

In this study we set out to dissociate the developmental time course of automatic symbolic number processing and cognitive control functions in grade 1-3 British primary school children. Event-related potential (ERP) and behavioral data were collected in a physical size discrimination numerical Stroop task. Task-irrelevant numerical information was processed automatically already in grade 1. Weakening interference and strengthening facilitation indicated the parallel development of general cognitive control and automatic number processing. Relationships among ERP and behavioral effects suggest that control functions play a larger role in younger children and that automaticity of number processing increases from grade 1 to 3.

Data acquisition and processing at ocean bottom for a Tsunami warning system

The design and development of a Bottom Pressure Recorder for a Tsunami Early Warning System is described here. The special requirements that it should satisfy for the specific application of deployment at ocean bed and pressure monitoring of the water column above are dealt with. A high-resolution data digitization and low circuit power consumption are typical ones. The implementation details of the data sensing and acquisition part to meet these are also brought out. The data processing part typically encompasses a Tsunami detection algorithm that should detect an event of significance in the background of a variety of periodic and aperiodic noise signals. Such an algorithm and its simulation are presented. Further, the results of sea trials carried out on the system off the Chennai coast are presented. The high quality and fidelity of the data prove that the system design is robust despite its low cost and with suitable augmentations, is ready for a full-fledged deployment at ocean bed. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

NOAA/MLML Radiometric Data Acquisition and Processing

This report is a detailed description of data processing of NOAA/MLML spectroradiometry data. It introduces the MLML_DBASE programs, describes the assembly of diverse data fues, and describes general algorithms and how individual routines are used. Definitions of data structures are presented in Appendices. [PDF contains 48 pages]

Processing NOAA Spectroradiometric Data

This report outlines the NOAA spectroradiometer data processing system implemented by the MLML_DBASE programs. This is done by presenting the algorithms and graphs showing the effects of each step in the algorithms. [PDF contains 32 pages]

IBM PC Data Acquisition and Processing Software Evaluation

Commercially available software packages for IBM PC-compatibles are evaluated to use for data acquisition and processing work. Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (MLML) acquired computers since 1978 to use on shipboard data acquisition (Le. CTD, radiometric, etc.) and data processing. First Hewlett-Packard desktops were used then a transition to the DEC VAXstations, with software developed mostly by the author and others at MLML (Broenkow and Reaves, 1993; Feinholz and Broenkow, 1993; Broenkow et al, 1993). IBM PC were at first very slow and limited in available software, so they were not used in the early days. Improved technology such as higher speed microprocessors and a wide range of commercially available software made use of PC more reasonable today. MLML is making a transition towards using the PC for data acquisition and processing. Advantages are portability and available outside support.

Automatic information and safety systems for driving assistance

O objeto principal desta tese é o estudo de algoritmos de processamento e representação automáticos de dados, em particular de informação obtida por sensores montados a bordo de veículos (2D e 3D), com aplicação em contexto de sistemas de apoio à condução. O trabalho foca alguns dos problemas que, quer os sistemas de condução automática (AD), quer os sistemas avançados de apoio à condução (ADAS), enfrentam hoje em dia. O documento é composto por duas partes. A primeira descreve o projeto, construção e desenvolvimento de três protótipos robóticos, incluindo pormenores associados aos sensores montados a bordo dos robôs, algoritmos e arquitecturas de software. Estes robôs foram utilizados como plataformas de ensaios para testar e validar as técnicas propostas. Para além disso, participaram em várias competições de condução autónoma tendo obtido muito bons resultados. A segunda parte deste documento apresenta vários algoritmos empregues na geração de representações intermédias de dados sensoriais. Estes podem ser utilizados para melhorar técnicas já existentes de reconhecimento de padrões, deteção ou navegação, e por este meio contribuir para futuras aplicações no âmbito dos AD ou ADAS. Dado que os veículos autónomos contêm uma grande quantidade de sensores de diferentes naturezas, representações intermédias são particularmente adequadas, pois podem lidar com problemas relacionados com as diversas naturezas dos dados (2D, 3D, fotométrica, etc.), com o carácter assíncrono dos dados (multiplos sensores a enviar dados a diferentes frequências), ou com o alinhamento dos dados (problemas de calibração, diferentes sensores a disponibilizar diferentes medições para um mesmo objeto). Neste âmbito, são propostas novas técnicas para a computação de uma representação multi-câmara multi-modal de transformação de perspectiva inversa, para a execução de correcção de côr entre imagens de forma a obter mosaicos de qualidade, ou para a geração de uma representação de cena baseada em primitivas poligonais, capaz de lidar com grandes quantidades de dados 3D e 2D, tendo inclusivamente a capacidade de refinar a representação à medida que novos dados sensoriais são recebidos.