Studies on the ionic transport and structural investigations of La0.5Li0.5TiO3 perovskite synthesized by wet chemical methods and the effect of Ce, Zr substitution at Ti site

La0.5Li0.5TiO3 perovskite was synthesized by various wet chemical methods. By adopting low temperature methods of preparation lithium loss from the material is prevented. La0.5Li0.5TiO3 (LLTO) was formed with cubic symmetry at 1473 K. LLTO was formed at relatively lower temperature by using hydrothermal preparation method. PVA gel-decomposition route yield tetragonal LLTO on annealing the dried gel at 1473 K. By using gel-carbonate route LiTi2O4 minor phase was found to remain even after heat-treatment at 1473 K. The hydroxylation of LLTO was done in deionized water as well as in dilute acetic acid medium. By hydroxylation process incorporation of hydroxyls and leaching out of Li+ was observed from the material. The Li+ concentration of these compositions was examined by AAS. The electrical conductivities of these compositions were measured by dc and ac impedance techniques at elevated temperatures. The activation energies of electrical conduction for these compositions were estimated from the experimental results. The measured activation energy of Li+ conduction is 0.34 eV. Unhydroxylated samples exhibit only Li+ conduction, whereas, the hydroxylated LLTO show proton conductivity at 298-550 K in addition to Li+ conductivity. The effect of Zr or Ce substitution in place of Ti were attempted. La0.5Li0.5ZrO3 Perovskite was not formed; instead pyrochlore phase (La2Zr2O7) along with monoclinic ZrO2 phases was observed above 1173 K; below 1173 K cubic ZrO2 is stable. (La0.5Li0.5)(2)CeO4 solid solution was formed in the case of Ce substitution at Ti sublattice on heat-treatment up to 1673 K. (c) 2005 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.

Comparison of Multiclass SVM Classification Methods to Use in a Supportive System for Distance Relay Coordination

This paper aims at evaluating the methods of multiclass support vector machines (SVMs) for effective use in distance relay coordination. Also, it describes a strategy of supportive systems to aid the conventional protection philosophy in combating situations where protection systems have maloperated and/or information is missing and provide selective and secure coordinations. SVMs have considerable potential as zone classifiers of distance relay coordination. This typically requires a multiclass SVM classifier to effectively analyze/build the underlying concept between reach of different zones and the apparent impedance trajectory during fault. Several methods have been proposed for multiclass classification where typically several binary SVM classifiers are combined together. Some authors have extended binary SVM classification to one-step single optimization operation considering all classes at once. In this paper, one-step multiclass classification, one-against-all, and one-against-one multiclass methods are compared for their performance with respect to accuracy, number of iterations, number of support vectors, training, and testing time. The performance analysis of these three methods is presented on three data sets belonging to training and testing patterns of three supportive systems for a region and part of a network, which is an equivalent 526-bus system of the practical Indian Western grid.

Estimation of cutting volume with three inventory methods for harvest planning in Canadian boreal forests.

Two methods of pre-harvest inventory were designed and tested on three cutting sites containing a total of 197 500 m3 of wood. These sites were located on flat-ground boreal forests located in northwestern Quebec. Both methods studied involved scaling of trees harvested to clear the road path one year (or more) prior to harvest of adjacent cut-blocks. The first method (ROAD) considers the total road right-of-way volume divided by the total road area cleared. The resulting volume per hectare is then multiplied by the total cut-block area scheduled for harvest during the following year to obtain the total estimated cutting volume. The second method (STRATIFIED) also involves scaling of trees cleared from the road. However, in STRATIFIED, log scaling data are stratified by forest stand location. A volume per hectare is calculated for each stretch of road that crosses a single forest stand. This volume per hectare is then multiplied by the remaining area of the same forest stand scheduled for harvest one year later. The sum of all resulting estimated volumes per stand gives the total estimated cutting-volume for all cut-blocks adjacent to the studied road. A third method (MNR) was also used to estimate cut-volumes of the sites studied. This method represents the actual existing technique for estimating cutting volume in the province of Quebec. It involves summing the cut volume for all forest stands. The cut volume is estimated by multiplying the area of each stand by its estimated volume per hectare obtained from standard stock tables provided by the governement. The resulting total estimated volume per cut-block for all three methods was then compared with the actual measured cut-block volume (MEASURED). This analysis revealed a significant difference between MEASURED and MNR methods with the MNR volume estimate being 30 % higher than MEASURED. However, no significant difference from MEASURED was observed for volume estimates for the ROAD and STRATIFIED methods which respectively had estimated cutting volumes 19 % and 5 % lower than MEASURED. Thus the ROAD and STRATIFIED methods are good ways to estimate cut-block volumes after road right-of-way harvest for conditions similar to those examined in this study.

Quantifying Vocal Mimicry in the Greater Racket-Tailed Drongo: A Comparison of Automated Methods and Human Assessment

Objective identification and description of mimicked calls is a primary component of any study on avian vocal mimicry but few studies have adopted a quantitative approach. We used spectral feature representations commonly used in human speech analysis in combination with various distance metrics to distinguish between mimicked and non-mimicked calls of the greater racket-tailed drongo, Dicrurus paradiseus and cross-validated the results with human assessment of spectral similarity. We found that the automated method and human subjects performed similarly in terms of the overall number of correct matches of mimicked calls to putative model calls. However, the two methods also misclassified different subsets of calls and we achieved a maximum accuracy of ninety five per cent only when we combined the results of both the methods. This study is the first to use Mel-frequency Cepstral Coefficients and Relative Spectral Amplitude - filtered Linear Predictive Coding coefficients to quantify vocal mimicry. Our findings also suggest that in spite of several advances in automated methods of song analysis, corresponding cross-validation by humans remains essential.

The effect of traditional handling, processing and storage methods on the quality of dried fish in small scale fisheries in Nigeria

Most of the fish marketed throughout Nigeria are in either smoked or dried form. The technological requirement for other forms of preservation like chilling and freezing cannot be afforded by the small scale fisher folk. Considerable quantities of fish processed for distant consumer markets are lost at handling, processing, storage and marketing stages. Significant losses occur through infestation by mites, insects, fungal infestation and fragmentation during transportation. This paper attempts to describe the effect of these losses on fish quality and suggests methods of protecting fish from agents of deterioration

A preliminary investigation into the effect of different storage methods on the keeping quality of smoked Oreochromis niloticus

The study was carried out to asses the nutritional qualities of smoked O. niloticus and to discover the best methods of storage to minimize spoilage and infestation of smoked fish. Result showed that the protein contents in A and D decreased while the protein contents of b and C increased. The lipid content increased only in A while it decreased in B-C and D. The moisture content generally increased over the period of storage and there was an increase in ash content only in C while it decreased in A, B and D. The samples packed in polythene bag suffered about 35% mould infection and a few were attached by rodents with some fouling. Samples packed in jute bag were in good condition but were slightly attached by insect. All samples packed in carton and basket were still in good state but there were insect attack in those packed in carton

Corroborative studies on the effects of sample variation on three macroinvertebrate biological assessment methods at different water quality states

In recent collaborative biological sampling exercises organised by the Nottingham Regional Laboratory of the Severn-Trent Water Authority, the effect of handnet sampling variation on the quality and usefulness of the data obtained has been questioned, especially when this data is transcribed into one or more of the commonly used biological methods of water quality assessment. This study investigates if this effect is constant at sites with similar typography but differing water quality states when the sampling method is standardized and carried out by a single operator. An argument is made for the use of a lowest common denominator approach to give a more consistent result and obviate the effect of sampling variation on these biological assessment methods.

Undertreatment of human immunodeficiency virus in psychiatric inpatients: a cross-sectional study of seroprevalence and associated factors

Background: The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of HIV and its associated demographic and clinical factors among psychiatric inpatients of a general hospital. Methods: This was a single-center, observational, cross-sectional study that included patients consecutively admitted to our unit aged 16 years or older and with no relevant cognitive problems. The patients were evaluated using a semistructured interview and an appropriate test for HIV infection. Results: Of the 637 patients who were screened, 546 (86%) who consented to participate were included in the analyses. Twenty-five (4.6%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.0-6.8) patients were HIV-positive. The prevalence was higher among patients with substance misuse (17.4%, 95% CI 9.7-28.8). All except one of the 25 patients knew of their seropositive condition prior to participation in the study. Only 14 (56%) of the 25 seropositive patients had previously received pharmacological treatment for their infection. According to the multiple logistic regression analysis, the likelihood of HIV infection was lower in patients with higher levels of education and higher among patients who were single, had history of intravenous drug use, and had an HIV-positive partner, particularly if they did not use condoms. Among the patients with HIV infection, 18 (72%) had a history of suicide attempts compared with 181 (34.7%) of the patients without HIV infection (relative risk 2.1, 95% CI 1.6-2.7; P<0.001). Conclusion: HIV infection is highly prevalent in patients admitted to a psychiatric unit, especially those with a diagnosis of substance misuse. Seropositive patients show very poor treatment adherence. The risk of suicide seems to be very high in this population. Implementing interventions to reduce the suicide risk and improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy and psychotropic medications seems crucial.

An assessment of the efficiency of three active fish capture methods and a study of roach / bream hybrids on the Crossens drainage system near Southport.

An assessment of three methods of fish capture, to establish the best fishing method which reflects the best range of sizes and species of fish in a given area. The methods used were trawl netting, electrofishing, and seine netting which were assessed on the Crossens drainage system near Southport. The report also includes a study of roach / bream hybrids that were found at the site, which focuses on their distinguishing features and compared with the features of roach and bream.

Improved chemical methods for extraction of fin rays from shark fins

A survey was undertaken of methods available for the extraction of fin rays from shark fins. The development of new, quicker and easier methods of processing is presented.

Impacts of fishing gears, fishing methods and fishing effort in the fisheries of Lake Victoria and proposals for management

The initial subsistence fisheries of Lake Victoria were dominated by two indigenous tilapiines, Oreochromis esculentus (Graham 1929) and Oreochromis variabilis Boulenger 1906, exploited with simple fishing crafts and gears that had little impact on the fish stocks (Jackson 1971). Commercial fisheries, targeting the tilapia fishery, started at the beginning of the 20th Centurywhen cotton flax gillnets were first introduced in 1905 into the Nyanza Gulf in Kenya. Gillnets were quickly adopted around the whole lake and consequently, the native methods of fishing soon died out (Jackson 1971). Following the introduction of gillnets, fishing boats and their propulsion methods were also improved. These improvements in fishing capacity coincided with development of urban centres and increasing human population around the lake, which increased the demand for fishery products. To satisfy the increasing demand, fishing effort increased greatly during the 20th century, despite the decline of catch per unit of effort (CPUE) (Jackson 1971; Ogutu-Ohwayo 1990). The initial catch rates of 127mm (5 inch) mesh size gill nets in the tilapia-based fishery, in 1905, was in the range of 50 to 100 fish per gillnet of approximately 50 m in length. However, twenty years later, the catch rates of gillnets of the same mesh size had declined to about six fish per net and gillnets of smaller mesh sizes, which had better catch rates, had been introduced suggesting overfishing (Worthington and Worthington, 1933).

A critical analysis of loudness calculation methods

The physical meaning and methods of determining loudness were reviewed Loudness is a psychoacoustic metric which closely corresponds to the perceived intensity of a sound stimulus. It can be determined by graphical procedures, numerical methods, or by commercial software. These methods typically require the consideration of the 1/3 octave band spectrum of the sound of interest. The sounds considered in this paper are a 1 kHz tone and pink noise. The loudness of these sounds was calculated in eight ways using different combinations of input data and calculation methods. All the methods considered are based on Zwicker loudness. It was determined that, of the combinations considered, only the commercial software dBSonic and the loudness calculation procedure detailed in DIN 45631 using 1/3 octave band levels filtered using ANSI S1.11-1986 gave the correct values of loudness for a 1 kHz tone. Comparing the results between the sources also demonstrated the difference between sound pressure level and loudness. It was apparent that the calculation and filtering methods must be considered together, as a given calculation will produce different results for different 1/3 octave band input. In the literature reviewed, no reference provided a guide to the selection of the type of filtering that should be used in conjunction with the loudness computation method.

APPLICATION OF THE MOMENT METHODS TO ANALYSIS OF X-RAY-DIFFRACTION LINE-PROFILE FOR PA1010-BMI SYSTEM

Pure X-ray diffraction profiles have been analysed for polyamide 1010 and PA1O1O-BMI system by means of multipeak fitting resolution of X-ray diffraction. The methods of variance and fourth moment have been applied to determine the particle size and strain values for the paracrystalline materials. The results indicated that both variance and fourth moment of X-ray diffraction line profile yielded approximately the same values of the particle size and the strain. The particle sizes of (100) reflection have been found to decrease with increasing BMI content, whereas the strain values increased.

Area factors and suicide: 5-year follow-up of the Northern Ireland population

Background: Suicide rates vary markedly between areas but it is unclear whether this is due to differences in population composition or to contextual factors operating at an area level.
Aims: To determine if area factors are independently related to suicide risk after adjustment for individual and family characteristics.
Method: A 5-year record linkage study was conducted of 1 116 748 non-institutionalised individuals aged 16-74 years, enumerated at the 2001 Northern Ireland census.
Results: The cohort experienced 566 suicides during follow-up. Suicide risks were lowest for women and for those who were married or cohabiting. Indicators of individual and household disadvantage and economic and health status at the time of the census were also strongly related to risk of suicide. The higher rates of suicide in the more deprived and socially fragmented areas disappeared after adjustment for individual and household factors. There was no significant relationship between population density and risk of suicide.
Conclusions: Differences in rates of suicide between areas are predominantly due to population characteristics rather than to area-level factors, which suggests that policies targeted at area-level factors are unlikely to significantly influence suicides rates.

How long is a piece of Strix? Methods in measuring and measuring the measurers

An experiment to quantify intra- and interobserver error in anatomical measurements found that interobserver measurements can vary by over 14% of mean specimen length; disparity in measurement increases logarithmically with the number of contributors; instructions did not reduce variation or measurement disparity; scale of the specimen influenced the precision of measurement (relative error increasing with specimen size); different methods of taking a measurement yielded different results, although they did not differ in terms of precision, and topographical complexity of the elements being considered may potentially influence error (error increasing with complexity). These results highlight concerns about introduction of noise and potential bias that should be taken into account when compiling composite datasets and meta-analyses.