Measurement precision and evaluation of the diameter profiles of single wool fibers

A recent model of the Single Fiber Analyzer 3001 (SIFAN3001) was firstly employed to obtain the single wool fiber diameter profiles (SfFDPs) at multiple orientations. The results showed that using SIFAN3001 to measure fiber diameter at four orientations for 50 single fibers randomly sub-sampled from each mid-side sample can produce average fiber diameter profiles (AS fFDPs) of fibers within staples. Within the testing regime used, the precision estimates for the total samples were ±1.3 µm for the mean fiber diameter of staples and 1.4 µm for the average fiber diameter of the AS fFDPs at each scanned step in the diameter profile. The mean diameter ratio (ellipticity) obtained from the four orientations was 1.08±0.01, confirming that the Merino wool fibers under review were elliptical rather than circular. The elliptical morphology of wool fibers and the precision of the fiber diameter measurement at each point along a fiber will be considered in the development of a mechanical model of Staple Strength testing.

Checks and cheques : implementing a population health and recall system to improve coverage of patients with diabetes in a rural general practice

Identification of all diabetic patients in the population is essential if diabetic care is to be effective in achieving the targets of the St Vincent Declaration.¹ The challenge therefore is to establish population based monitoring and control systems by means of state of the art technology in order to achieve quality assurance in the provision of care for patients with diabetes. ^2,3 Disease management receives extensive international support as the most appropriate approach to organising and delivering healthcare for chronic conditions like diabetes.⁴ This approach is achieved through a combination of guidelines for practice, patient education, consultations and follow up using a planned team approach and a strong focus on continuous quality improvement using information technology. ^5,6 The current software (Medical Director) could not easily meet these requirements which led us to adopt a trial of Ferret. In designing this project we used change management⁷ and the plan, do, study, act cycle⁸ illustrated in Diagram 1.

The measurement precision and evaluation of the diameter profiles of single wool fibres

A recent model of Single Fibre Analyser 3001 (SIFAN3001) was firstly employed to obtain the single wool fibre diameter profiles (SfFDP’s) at multiple orientations. The results showed that using SIFAN3001 to measure fibre diameter at four orientations for 50 single fibres randomly sub-sampled from each mid-side sample can produce average fibre diameter profiles (ASfFDP’s) of fibres within staples. Within the testing regime used, the precision estimates for the total samples were ±1.3µm for mean fibre diameter of staples and ±1.4µm for average fibre diameter of the ASfFDP’s at each scanned step in the diameter profile. The mean diameter ratio (ellipticity) obtained from the four orientations was 1.08±0.01, confirming that the Merino wool fibres under review were elliptical rather than circular. The elliptical morphology of wool fibres and the precision of fibre diameter measurement at each point along a fibre will be considered in the development of a mechanical model of Staple Strength testing.

Application of rank correlation, clustering and classification in information security

This article is devoted to experimental investigation of a novel application of a clustering technique introduced by the authors recently in order to use robust and stable consensus functions in information security, where it is often necessary to process large data sets and monitor outcomes in real time, as it is required, for example, for intrusion detection. Here we concentrate on a particular case of application to profiling of phishing websites. First, we apply several independent clustering algorithms to a randomized sample of data to obtain independent initial clusterings. Silhouette index is used to determine the number of clusters. Second, rank correlation is used to select a subset of features for dimensionality reduction. We investigate the effectiveness of the Pearson Linear Correlation Coefficient, the Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient and the Goodman--Kruskal Correlation Coefficient in this application. Third, we use a consensus function to combine independent initial clusterings into one consensus clustering. Fourth, we train fast supervised classification algorithms on the resulting consensus clustering in order to enable them to process the whole large data set as well as new data. The precision and recall of classifiers at the final stage of this scheme are critical for the effectiveness of the whole procedure. We investigated various combinations of several correlation coefficients, consensus functions, and a variety of supervised classification algorithms.

The effects of controlled language processing on listening comprehension and recall

This study seeks to determine the possible interactions between listening proficiency and the state of strategic self-awareness; second, and more importantly, to investigate the effects of learned strategies on listening comprehension and recall; and finally to describe the most common real-time listening comprehension problems faced by EFL learners and to compare the differences between learners with different listening abilities. After ten training sessions, an assessment was made to see whether or not well-learned strategies could provide students with ample opportunity to practice the comprehension and recall processes. The analyses of the data revealed the causes of ineffective low-level processing and provided insights to solve the problems of parsing. Moreover, the study reveals that explicit instruction of cognitive and metacognitive strategies is needed if a syllabus wishes to help learners improve their listening comprehension and become more-proficient at directing their own learning and development as L2 listeners.

The effect of product placement in computer games on brand attitude and recall

Media fragmentation and proliferation, in concert with declining television advertising efficacy, has engendered interest in developing more effective ways to reach consumers – particularly non-users of a brand. This study explores the effect of active product placement in computer games on both brand attitude (Abrand) and recall. Findings suggest that exposure to a particular brand in a computer game can increase Abrand among consumers whose pre-existing attitude towards the brand in question is fairly low. It was concluded that product placement within computer games is an effective means of fostering high spontaneous brand recall and even of influencing consumers less positively predisposed towards a brand (analogous to non-users). These findings have promising managerial implications for firms looking to grow their customer base through acquisition and conversion.

Spaced repetition tool for improving long-term memory retention and recall of collected personal experiences

A variety of electronic displays available for home use creates opportunities for intelligent applications. This paper presents a semi-passive photo reviewing tool for consolidating memories of experiences utilizing personal picture libraries. A form of spaced repetition algorithm is used to create visual journeys which link photos together around a user-chosen central theme. Systematically reviewing images from positive personal experiences can be useful to remember significant events, as well as to balance out stressful events in our lives. The design exploits existing digital home displays and aims to improve usage of media collections

High precision and selectivity for quantitation of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin in five chicken tissues using solid phase extraction and ESI LC-MS/MS for application in monitoring residues

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Towards higher precision and operational use of optical homodyne tomograms

We present the results of an operational use of experimentally measured optical tomograms to determine state characteristics (purity) avoiding any reconstruction of quasiprobabilities. We also develop a natural way how to estimate the errors (including both statistical and systematic ones) by an analysis of the experimental data themselves. Precision of the experiment can be increased by postselecting the data with minimal (systematic) errors. We demonstrate those techniques by considering coherent and photon-added coherent states measured via the time-domain improved homodyne detection. The operational use and precision of the data allowed us to check purity-dependent uncertainty relations and uncertainty relations for Shannon and Renyi entropies.

Accuracy, precision and robustness of different methods to obtain samples from silages in fermentation studies

The objective of this study was to evaluate accuracy, precision and robustness of two methods to obtain silage samples, in comparison with extraction of liquor by manual screw-press. Wet brewery residue alone or combined with soybean hulls and citrus pulp were ensiled in laboratory silos. Liquor was extracted by a manual screw-press and a 2-mL aliquot was fixed with 0.4 mL formic acid. Two 10-g silage samples from each silo were diluted in 20 mL deionized water or 17% formic acid solution (alternative methods). Aliquots obtained by the three methods were used to determine the silage contents of fermentation end-products. The accuracy of the alternative methods was evaluated by comparing mean bias of estimates obtained by manual screw-press and by alternative methods, whereas precision was assessed by the root mean square prediction error and the residual error. Robustness was determined by studying the interaction between bias and chemical components, pH, in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and buffer capacity. The 17% formic acid method was more accurate for estimating acetic, butyric and lactic acids, although it resulted in low overestimates of propionic acid and underestimates of ethanol. The deionized water method overestimated acetic and propionic acids and slightly underestimated ethanol. The 17% formic acid method was more precise than deionized water for estimating all organic acids and ethanol. The robustness of each method with respect to variation in the silage chemical composition, IVDMD and pH is dependent on the fermentation end-product at evaluation. The robustness of the alternative methods seems to be critical at the determination of lactic acid and ethanol contents.

Effects of study precision and risk of bias in networks of interventions: a network meta-epidemiological study

BACKGROUND Empirical research has illustrated an association between study size and relative treatment effects, but conclusions have been inconsistent about the association of study size with the risk of bias items. Small studies give generally imprecisely estimated treatment effects, and study variance can serve as a surrogate for study size. METHODS We conducted a network meta-epidemiological study analyzing 32 networks including 613 randomized controlled trials, and used Bayesian network meta-analysis and meta-regression models to evaluate the impact of trial characteristics and study variance on the results of network meta-analysis. We examined changes in relative effects and between-studies variation in network meta-regression models as a function of the variance of the observed effect size and indicators for the adequacy of each risk of bias item. Adjustment was performed both within and across networks, allowing for between-networks variability. RESULTS Imprecise studies with large variances tended to exaggerate the effects of the active or new intervention in the majority of networks, with a ratio of odds ratios of 1.83 (95% CI: 1.09,3.32). Inappropriate or unclear conduct of random sequence generation and allocation concealment, as well as lack of blinding of patients and outcome assessors, did not materially impact on the summary results. Imprecise studies also appeared to be more prone to inadequate conduct. CONCLUSIONS Compared to more precise studies, studies with large variance may give substantially different answers that alter the results of network meta-analyses for dichotomous outcomes.