Qualitative analysis of goat and sheep production data using self-organizing maps

Abstract: The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between different small ruminant livestock production systems with different levels of specialization. The analysis is carried out by using the self-organizing map. This tool allows high-dimensional input spaces to be mapped into much lower-dimensional spaces, thus making it much more straightforward to understand any set of data. These representations enable the visual extraction of qualitative relationships among variables (visual data mining), converting the data to maps. The data used in this study were obtained from surveys completed by farmers who are principally dedicated to goat and sheep production. With the self-organizing map we found a relationship between qualitative and quantitative variables showing that more specialized farms have greater milk incomes per goat, highlighting farms that have a greater number of animals, better facilities (including milking machines) or animals fed with elaborated diets. The use of self-organizing maps for the analysis of this kind of data has proven to be highly valuable in extracting qualitative conclusions and in guiding improvements in farm performance.     

Evaluation of virtual environment as a form of interactive resuscitation exam

There is scientific evidence confirming the effectiveness of e-learning within resuscitation, however, there is not enough research on modern examination techniques within the scope. The aim of the pilot research is to compare the exam results in the field of Advanced Life Support in a traditional (paper) and interactive (computer) form as well as to evaluate satisfaction of the participants. A survey was conducted which meant to evaluate satisfaction of exam participants. Statistical analysis of the collected data was conducted at a significance level of α?=?0.05 using STATISTICS v. 12. Final results of the traditional exam (67.5%?±?15.8%) differed significantly (p?<?0.001) from the results of the interactive exam (53.3%?±?13.7%). However, comparing the number of students who did not pass the exam (passing point at 51%), no significant differences (p?=?0.13) were observed between the two types exams. The feedback accuracy as well as the presence of well-prepared interactive questions could influence the evaluation of satisfaction of taking part in the electronic test. Significant differences between the results of a traditional test and the one supported by Computer Based Learning system showed the possibility of achieving a more detailed competence verification in the field of resuscitation thanks to interactive solutions.     

Impairments in theory of mind shortly after traumatic brain injury and at 1-year follow-up.

Most studies into acquired theory of mind (ToM) deficits assessed patients once, long after the onset of brain injury. As a result, the time course of acquired ToM impairments is largely unknown. The present study examined whether ToM impairments following traumatic brain injury (TBI) recover, remain stable, or worsen over time. Because of the alleged association between ToM and social communication, ToM impairments may deteriorate because of changes in patients' social environment following injury. ToM ability and executive functioning were assessed shortly after injury and at 1-year follow-up. Compared with the orthopedic control group, the TBI group was impaired on ToM and executive functioning tasks at both assessments. Furthermore, the ToM impairments in the TBI group remained stable over time. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

BioLab: An Educational Tool for Signal Processing Training in Biomedical Engineering

This paper introduces and evaluates BioLab, a tool for teaching biosignal processing. BioLab has been used in the biomedical engineering module that is given in the second semester of the fifth year of the electronic engineering degree at the University of Valencia, Spain. This module and its correspondent curricular pathway are also reviewed. BioLab allows the results obtained with digital processing techniques to be shown interactively in the theory classes, and it also provides support in laboratory sessions. The graphic interface of BioLab simplifies its learning and use and provides access to processing and visualization functions by means of menus. The tool is based on Matlab since the students have had previous experience in this environment. BioLab also supports diverse formats of data files, which facilitate access to real records and their conversion to usable formats. The modular structure of BioLab allows it to be easily extended to other educational materials that are related to signal processing and to research applications. An evaluation of BioLab has revealed that students found it useful for understanding the general concepts of digital processing and biosignal processing in particular. The students also found BioLab very easy to learn and use     

On the separation and recycling behaviour of textile reinforced concrete: an experimental study

This paper presents the results of recent experiments on the recyclability of the textile components in textile reinforced concrete (TRC). TRC as a multi-component system often contains organic ingredients such as carbon fibres and polymer impregnations. Consequently, the recycling of TRC is not trivial and has not yet been sufficiently clarified until now. In this study, an impregnated, bi-axially reinforced, and warp-knitted textiles made of carbon fibres was used in combination with a fine grained concrete. Flexural tests on TRC specimens containing recycled epoxy-impregnated carbon reinforcement were performed, whereby the recycling was simulated by a pre-treatment of the carbon fibre material in a jaw crusher. The results showed a pronounced decrease in flexural strength compared to untreated carbon reinforcement. Moreover, three different crushing methods were investigated with respect to their influence on the recovery of styrene-butadiene-rubber impregnated carbon textiles. Besides jaw crushing and impact milling, crushing with a hammer mill showed the best degree of purity but also caused the highest mechanical damage to the textile. The impact of material, structure of the composite and crushing methods on the separation behaviour could be deduced from the experiments.     

Characterization of $${\hbox {BaTiO}_{3}}$$ piezoelectric perovskite material for multilayer actuators

In this study, we present the results of the manufacturing of \(\hbox {BaTiO}_{3}\) powder, which is meant for use in stacked-disk multilayer actuator production. The solid-state technique was used for powder preparation. The properties of barium titanate material, at each stage of its fabrication (powder, granulate, sintered material), influencing on its application for the stacked-disk multilayer actuator were determined. Particularly, the four parameters of \(\hbox {BaTiO}_{3}\) sinter affecting on the usability properties of actuators, not found before in the literature, were estimated. Parameters characterizing the extent of material sintering, SEM microstructures and electric properties of the fabricated pellets are presented and discussed. The dilatometric curve was executed using the high temperature dilatometer to determine at which temperature barium titanate pellets and beams should be sintered to receive full dense sinters. Parameters characterizing the extent of material sintering: the apparent density, the apparent porosity and the water absorbability were estimated. Finally, the problem of metal layer deposition on barium titanate ceramics during actuator fabrication is considered.     

Synthesis of 1-propenyl ethers and their using as modifiers of UV-cured coatings in radical and cationic polymerization

The 1-propenyl ethers of diols and polyols have recently attracted increasing attention as monomers and comonomers because these compounds undergo UV-photoinitiated polymerization. The synthesis of 1-propenyl ethers via the isomerization of corresponding, readily available allyl ethers catalysed by homogenized transition metal complexes with recycling of catalyst has been described. The properties of UV-cured coatings have been investigated for various compositions containing: the model ether (i.e. 1,4-di(1-propenyloxy)-butane), the unsaturated polyester resin [Estromal 103] or epoxy resin [Epidian 6] and radical (i.e. Irgacure 184) or cationic (i.e. triarylsulfonium salts with metal halide anions: PF₆⁻, SbF₆⁻) initiators. The purified or unrefined (i.e. including 0.05 mol% homogenized ruthenium(II) complex [RuClH(CO)(PPh₃)₃]) 1,4-di(1-propenyloxy)butane were applied as modifiers. The effect of presence of homogenized [RuClH(CO)(PPh₃)₃] in the composition has been discussed.     

Perceived Versus Actual Disagreement: Which Influences Deliberative Experiences?

Little is known about whether deliberative experiences are affected by participants' perceptions of disagreement or by what is expressed during deliberation. Drawing on participants in online deliberations, we find that (a) it is perceived disagreement that is strongly related to experiences such as interest/enjoyment, (b) medium levels of objective disagreement attenuate confusion, and (c) these associations depend on the topic discussed and are subject to some critical thresholds. These results have both theoretical and practical implications. They suggest that (a) perceptions of disagreement, although not clearly indicative of what transpires in deliberation, are consequential, (b) objective disagreement exerts nuanced effects that do not always parallel those of perceived disagreement, and (c) disagreement should be assessed in an issue‐specific manner.