Search

Imbalanced data classification remains a focus of intense research, mostly due to the prevalence of data imbalance in various real-life application domains. A disproportion among objects from different classes may significantly affect the performance of standard classification models. The first problem is the high imbalance ratios that pose a serious learning difficulty and require usage of dedicated methods, capable of alleviating this issue. The second important problem which may appear is noise, which may be accompanying the training data and causing strong deterioration of the classifier performance or increase the time required for its training. Therefore, the desirable classification model should be robust to both skewed data distributions and noise. One of the most popular approaches for handling imbalanced data is oversampling of the minority objects in their neighborhood. In this work we will criticize this approach and propose a novel strategy for dealing with imbalanced data, with particular focus on the noise presence. We propose Radial-Based Oversampling (RBO) method, which can find regions in which the synthetic objects from minority class should be generated on the basis of the imbalance distribution estimation with radial basis functions. Results of experiments, carried out on a representative set of benchmark datasets, confirm that the proposed guided synthetic oversampling algorithm offers an interesting alternative to popular state-of-the-art solutions for imbalanced data preprocessing.

To examine the utility of a patient-level information video as part of the contraception consultation visit. Specifically, to assess the impact of the video on women's contraception choice, and, further, to assess patient and provider acceptability of incorporating the video into the patient visit.A pre-post study design was used to assess the impact on patients' contraceptive choices and knowledge. Participants (n = 49) answered questions regarding contraceptive preferences and knowledge of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), then watched a 12-minute patient-level counselling video that presented evidence-based information about contraception in descending order of effectiveness. Clinicians (n = 39) also viewed the video and completed a survey. A retrospective chart review of 100 contraception visits was completed.Patient preference for IUDs increased significantly, whereas condoms decreased pre-to-post video (hormonal: 8.2% to 20.4%; copper: 0% to 16%; condoms: 32.7% to 18%, P 0.05). Although 74.4% of clinicians believed that the hormonal IUD was the "ideal" form of contraception when no contraindications were present, 95% stated that the oral contraceptive pill was most often prescribed, and a chart review revealed that the oral contraceptive pill was discussed at 88% of contraceptive counselling visits. Both patients and clinicians found the video useful and acceptable.A patient-level contraceptive information video improved interest in LARC. Both patients and clinicians viewed the video as an acceptable addition to the contraceptive counselling visit.

Background Surgical treatment of retrochiasmatic craniopharyngiomas is associated with higher rates of complications, mortality, failure of complete removal, and recurrence compared with craniopharyngiomas located elsewhere. These tumors lie behind the optic chiasm and when large can extend upward into the third ventricle and downward along the brain stem, making their adequate exposure challenging. Most of the proposed techniques either use a translamina terminalis route or require wide bony exposures. In this study, we assessed the feasibility of a subtemporal approach for achieving gross total resection of retrochiasmatic craniopharyngiomas. Methods Thirty patients with retrochiasmatic craniopharyngioma underwent surgery via a subtemporal approach. The technique and surgical and preoperative and postoperative endocrinologic outcomes are described in detail. Results Gross total resection was achieved in all cases. The average tumor volume was 7.59 mL. The average postsurgical observation time was 73.8 months. During this time, 3 recurrences were observed (10.7%). The perioperative mortality was 6.6%. The pituitary stalk was preserved in 13 cases. Partial preservation of the pituitary stalk did not offer any advantage in terms of pituitary function. No postoperative vision worsening or new fixed neurologic deficits were observed. Among the 22 patients with preoperative vision impairment, 18 reported a significant improvement. The most common abnormalities within the temporal lobe on the side of the exposure seen on control magnetic resonance imaging were mild temporal horn enlargement (13 cases) and T2 hyperintensity (7 cases). Conclusions A subtemporal approach can be an attractive alternative approach to accessing retrochiasmatic craniopharyngiomas. Outcomes are comparable to those associated with other widely used and time-consuming exposures.

Despite their cultural, economic, and ecological importance, large carnivores are experiencing a global decline, largely due to conflict with humans. In this study we assessed the spatial and temporal patterns and socioeconomic correlates of perceived conflict with lions, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs, and wild dogs in the Ngorongoro Highlands and Tarangire Manyara Ecosystem of Northern Tanzania using structured interviews (n = 356). Conflict with large carnivores was mainly prevalent during the wet season, and was spatially highly heterogeneous. Hyenas were the predominant conflict species, followed by leopards. Employing species-specific generalized linear mixed effects models, we assessed spatial, psychological, socio-economic and demographic correlates of perceived conflict. Interestingly, we found few consistencies among correlates for reported conflict frequency. Ethnicity, gender, age, education, fear of large carnivore species, and education had mixed effects on perceived conflict frequency while livestock ownership and relative wealth were negligible in explaining reported conflict frequency. These results suggest that education, psychological and demographic attributes were more influential (though dependent on species and landscape) in wildlife conflict perceptions than economic considerations. Although effective mitigation methods were generally available, they were rarely employed. We suggest that mitigation strategies that address local needs be made more accessible, and that conservation education programs particularly target conflict hotspot areas.

Data imbalance remains one of the most widespread problems affecting contemporary machine learning. The negative effect data imbalance can have on the traditional learning algorithms is most severe in combination with other dataset difficulty factors, such as small disjuncts, presence of outliers and insufficient number of training observations. Aforementioned difficulty factors can also limit the applicability of some of the methods of dealing with data imbalance, in particular the neighborhood-based oversampling algorithms based on SMOTE. Radial-Based Oversampling (RBO) was previously proposed to mitigate some of the limitations of the neighborhood-based methods. In this paper we examine the possibility of utilizing the concept of mutual class potential, used to guide the oversampling process in RBO, in the undersampling procedure. Conducted computational complexity analysis indicates a significantly reduced time complexity of the proposed Radial-Based Undersampling algorithm, and the results of the performed experimental study indicate its usefulness, especially on difficult datasets.

In the paper authors described a method of CBN grinding wheel cutting ability evaluation and research results achieved with this method during grinding process. Research results, which allowed for verification of the method (e.g. measurements of grinding force components, surface roughness and waviness parameters and stress level in surface layer) were also presented.

W niniejszej pracy, autorzy skoncentrowali sie na wyliczeniu oraz analizie wskaźnikow umozliwiających ocene kondycji finansowej wybranych przedsiebiorstw oraz jednostki pozytku publicznego. Dane wykorzystywane podczas wyliczen zaczerpnieto ze sprawozdan finansowych publikowanych przez wybrane jednostki. W pracy dokonano niezbednych obliczen docelowo uzyskując miare PHI Zietlowa. In this study, the authors focused on the calculation and analysis of indicators to assess the financial condition of the selected companies and public benefit entities. The data used in the calculations are taken from the financial statements published by the selected units. The paper necessary calculations ultimately give a measure of PHI.

Niniejszy projekt badawczy ma na celu sporządzenie prognozy przyszlej wartośc przychodow ze sprzedazy w spolce akcyjnej, ktora dziala w branzy "restauracje i ruchome placowki gastronomiczne" (czyli w klasie 56.10 wedlug klasyfikacji NACE). Prognoza finansowa jest przygotowana dla nastepnego roku (to znaczy 2012). Autor probuje ocenic kondycje finansową firmy za pomocą analizy fundamentalnej i badania sprawozdan finansowych. Ponadto autor korzystając z metody "modelowania w stalych warunkach" stara sie przewidziec przyszlą wielkośc sprzedazy.The present research project attempts to forecast future value of sales revenue for public company which operates in sector "restaurants and mobile food service activities" (i.e. in class 56.10 according to the NACE classification). Financial projection is prepared for a next year (it means 2012). Author try to estimate company's financial condition using fundamental analysis and analyzing its financial statements. Furthermore author using "steady state model" to predict future sales revenue.

Celem pracy jest analiza sytuacji finansowej spolki w oparciu o indeks kondycji finansowej określający m.in. stabilnośc finansową spolki, na przestrzeni sześciu kolejnych lat obejmujących okres od 2007 do 2012 roku. Ponadto zostanie przedstawiony schemat tworzenia indeksu PHI wraz z interpretacją wynikow. Obliczen dokonano w oparciu o prace John'a Zietlow'a pt. "A Financial Health Index for Achieving Financial Sustainability", w ktorej zostaly zaprezentowane wykorzystane wskaźniki m.in. plynności, wyplacalności czy finansowej elastyczności spolki. Analiza zostanie przeprowadzona na przykladzie przedsiebiorstwa z branzy 35 EKD zajmującego sie wytwarzaniem, przesylaniem, dystrybucją i handlem energią elektryczną. The aim of the study is to analyze the financial situation of the company based on the A Financial Health Index, inter alia, financial stability of the company, over the next six years, covering the period from 2007 to 2012. In addition, will be presented to the index creation scheme PHI along with the interpretation of the results. The calculations were based on the work of John Zietlow "A Financial Health Index for Achieving Financial Sustainability", in which they were presented, among others, the indicators used liquidity, solvency and financial flexibility of the company. The analysis will be carried out on the example of companies from the 35 NACE involved in the generation, transmission, distribution and trading in electricity.

s from the 2012 American Venous Forum Annual Meeting Factors Associated With Recurrence of Varicose Veins After Thermal Ablation: 3-Year Results of the REVATA (Recurrent Veins After Thermal Ablation) Study R.G. Bush1, P. Bush1, J. Flanagan2, R. Fritz3, T. Gueldner4, J. Koziarski5, K. McMullen6, G. Zumbro7, 1Midwest Vein & Laser Center, Centerville, Ohio, 2Delaware Valley Vein Center, Phoenixville, Pa, 3Advanced Vein Center of North Texas, Irving, Tex, 4Wisconsin Vein Center, Manitowoc, Wisc, 5Family Surgical, Battlecreek, Mich, 6Varicose Vein Clinics of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Okla, 7Vein Specialists of Augusta, Martinez, Ga Background: Factors contributing to recurrence of varicose veins after thermal ablationarenotwell known.Thegoalof thisprospective,non-randomized, multi-center trial was to determine the site, source, and contributory factors of varicose vein recurrence after radiofrequency (RF) and laser ablation. Methods: Seven centers enrolled patients into the study during a twelve-month period, from January 1st, to December 31st, 2010. All patients underwent previous thermal ablation of the great saphenous vein (GSV), small saphenous vein (SSV) or anterior accessory great saphenous vein (AAGSV). Patients with high ligation of the GSV and/or stripping were excluded from the study. From a specific designed study tool, recurrence was identified as to site, etiology, and primary mode of treatment (RF, laser). Results: 2,380 patients were evaluated during this time frame. A total of 164 patients, (7%), 3 with bilateral limb involvement, had varicose vein recurrence at a mean of 3 years after treatment (range, 9 months to 8 years) This group of 164 patients with varicose vein recurrence were the subjects of this study. 33% were between the age of 51 and 60, median age range was 51-60, and 83% were women. A history of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) was present in 2% of the patients and deep venous insufficiency was present in 17%. GSV ablation was the initial treatment in 159 patients (RF: 33, laser: 131, 52 of these patients had either SSV or AAGSV ablation concurrently. Total or partial GSV recanalization occurred in 47 patients (29%). Of these 47 patients, 27 had RF ablation, and 20 had laser thermal ablation. New AAGSV reflux occurred in 40 patients (24%), and new SSV reflux occurred in 24 patients (12%) Primary or associated perforator pathology was present in 64% of patients. Conclusions: Recurrence of varicose veins at 3 years after thermal ablation was 7%. The three most important factors associated with varicose vein recurrence included new or recurrent perforating veins; recanalized GSV and new AAGSV reflux, in decreasing frequency. In this study, patients who underwent RF treatment had a higher rate of GSV recanalization than those who were treated with laser. Cyanoacrylate Glue Great Saphenous Vein Ablation: Preliminary 180Day Follow-Up of a First-In-Man Feasibility Study of a No-Compression-No-Local-Anesthesia Technique J.I. Almeida1, J.J. Javier2, E.G. Mackay3, C. Bautista4, T. Proebstle5, 1Miami Vein Center, Miami, Fla, 2Physicians Regional Vein Center, Naples, Fla, 3Mackay Vein Center, St. Petersburgh, Fla, 4Canela Clinic, La Romana, Dominican Republic, 5University Clinic of Mainz, Mainz, Germany Background: Endovenous thermal ablation is a highly effective technology for the treatment of incompetent great saphenous veins (GSVs). However, the treatment requires painful transcutaneous injection of perivenous anesthetic fluids. Graduated compression hose are required postprocedure to help mitigate the inflammatory side-effects of thermal delivery. This study was conducted to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the Sapheon Closure System for chemical ablation of duplex proven incompetent great saphenous veins. Methods: Two series of patients were treated (n 8 and n 30 follow-up of 180 and 30 days, respectively). After venous access and placement of a novel delivery system, the vein was sealed with a proprietary cyanoacrylate (CA) formulation. Perivenous tumescent anesthesia and postprocedure compression stockings were omitted. Results: Thirty-eight patients (29 female) with a median age of 51 years (range, 26-77) and an average VCSS score of 6.0 / 2.7 (range, 2-17) received study treatment. Average maximum saphenofemoral junction (SFJ) diameter was 8.0 / 2.2 cm (range, 4.1 12.0) before treatment. The mean length of ablated GSV segments was 33cm (range, 15-52), average treatment duration was 20.3 minutes (range, 11 33). The mean volume of CA delivered was a total of 1.3 ml (range, 0.63 2.25). Immediately postprocedure, and at 24-72 hours, 100% (38 of 38) were closed. At 30 days follow-up 97% (35 of 36) of treated GSV segments were completely closed; one limb had a 1cm segment of incomplete ablation. VCSS scores improved to a mean of 1.9 / 2.1 (range, 0-11; P .001 compared to baseline) at 30 days in 37 patients. Of the eight patients followed for 180 days, average VCSS improved to 1.1 / 1.0 (range, 0 3) Thirty-one of 37 patients reported no pain during the 30 days after treatment; the remaining six were successfully treated with NSAIDs. No significant side effects or complications were observed. Conclusion: Endovenous ablation of incompetent GSVs with a CAbased glue is feasible. Procedure times are short, tumescent anesthesia is unnecessary as are postprocedure compression stockings. Lack of significant side-effects and an initial success rate of 100% with significant, long-standing, improvement of clinical symptoms support further clinical studies. The Long-Term Effect of Foam Sclerotherapy On Chronic Venous Leg Ulcers With Superficial Venous Reflux F.J. Slim, S.R. Kulkarni, L.G. Emerson, C. Davies, R.A. Bulbulia, M.R. Whyman, K.R. Poskitt, Cheltenham General Hospital, Cheltenham, United Kingdom Background: The ESCHAR trial showed that superficial venous surgery and compression in chronic venous ulcers achieved a 24 week healing rate of 65%, 12 month recurrence rate of 12% and 4 year recurrence rate of 31%. Foam sclerotherapy may be an attractive alternative to surgery. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of foam sclerotherapy on ulcer healing and long term recurrence in chronic venous leg ulcers. This is an expanded study of the abstract presented at the Royal Society of Medicine Venous Forum reporting long term recurrence data. Methods: Chronic venous leg ulcers (CEAP 5 and CEAP 6) with superficial venous reflux were treated between March 2006 and August 2011 with ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy and compression. Venous duplex was performed on all legs before and one week after treatment. 24-week ulcer healing and 1 and 4 year ulcer recurrence rates were analysed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Results: Two hundred and fourteen legs (199 patients) with chronic venous ulcers (CEAP 5: n 173, CEAP 6: n 41) were treated with foam sclerotherapy. Median age was 73 years (range, 29-92, M:F 87:112). Complete occlusion was achieved in 195/214 (91.1%) legs, short segment occlusion in 16/214 (6.5%) legs and 3/214 failed to occlude. One patient suffered nonocclusive DVT diagnosed on duplex scan at 1 week and one presented with an occlusive DVT at 3 weeks following a normal scan at 1 week. One patient developed asymptomatic occlusive DVT at two weeks following a nonocclusive DVT diagnosed on initial 1 week scan. Eighteen patients were lost to follow up (3 moved away and 15 died of unrelated cause). Twenty four week healing rate was 70.7% and 1 and 4 year recurrence rate were 4.7% and 28.1% respectively. Conclusion: Foam sclerotherapy is effective in abolition of superficial venous reflux contributing to favourable ulcer healing and long term recurrence rates. Foam sclerotherapy is an attractive alternative to superficial venous surgery in this group of patients. Occlusion Rate With Foam Sclerotherapy For the Treatment of Greater Saphenous Vein Incompetence: A Multicentric Study of 3170 Cases J.H. Ulloa, Jr, Clinica de Venas, Bogota, Colombia Background: Foam sclerotherapy using direct access under guided ultrasound, has been the method of choice of our group for the treatment of greater saphenous vein (GSV) incompetence for the last 8 years. The practicality of this approach, low costs, no anesthesia requirement and repeatability, has encouraged other groups in Latin America to follow our example. We organized a multicentric international group in order to get mutual feedback to improve our technique and establish the potential hazards we may encounter. Methods: We present a prospective multicentric study where 2674 patients, 3170 limbs, C2-6, Ep,As,Pr, diagnosed with duplex scanning and operated between june 2007 and june 2011. All cases were treated with foam sclerotherapy with no other treatment associated. Lapidium clorhidrate was the sclerosant of choice due to its increased foam stability. Foam was delivered into the vein via a 21-gauge needle just below the knee; an average of 3cc (12cc of foam) per patient was used. Compression stockings (22mmHg) were used in all cases. Follow-up visits were scheduled at the first week, first,3rd,6th and 12th months and included ultrasound surveillance to assess the occlusion of the treated vein. Result: Occlusion of the GSV was achieved in 96.2% of limbs studied and 93.7% remain occluded at 12months after treatment. Among the complications we had three DVT, one of them subclinical. Superficial thrombophlebitis in 17, induration in 390 and dyschromia in 46 cases. We had one major incident: a neumonitis that required ICU hospitalization for 5 days and were successfully discharged. Conclusions: Foam sclerotherapy is a safe method that showed a high occlusion rate. The possibility of adverse effects has to be taken into account in order to minimize risks and be prepared to handle unavoidable complications.

The growth of microorganisms on agricultural effluents is a possible means of reducing pollutants in the wastewaters and of producing a protein animal-feed supplement. Tests were carried out with a number of strains of yeast growing in piggery effluent with and without additional carbon sources. Yeast growth on raw piggery wastes with no carbon enrichment was unsatisfactory, from the points of view of both biomass yield and wastewatertreatment. Sucrose and molasses were tested as carbon-enrichment sources, molasses being a substrate more likely to be used in a commercial operation. Additional carbon produced a larger decrease in pollutants and in nitrogen and phosphorous compounds in the waste than in the unenriched waste and molasses proved better than sucrose. Values for cell yields and decreases in pollutants are given. Although the results were encouraging the process seems inadequate from the point of view of waste-treatment efficiency and protein recovery in view of the cost of the carbon supplements used and the need for skilled operation of a full-size plant.

Piggeries housing above 10 thousand animals produce large quantities of diluted wastes which frequently have to be discharged to streams, but only after adequate treatment. After discussing in this paper the pig production trends, waste characteristics and the various full-scale treatment technologies, the efficiency of treatment of one plant is analysed. The system consists of: screening, which yields 28% COD removal, alum coagulation (62% COD removal), activated sludge (65% COD) and anaerobic biofiltration (38% COD). Economic efficiency and analysis indicates increasing efficiency at higher flow-rates and for larger plants. Environmental constraints and operation and maintenance factors that could not be included in the economical analysis dictate the need for reassessing the trend to increase the farm size and for replacing the present physico-chemical pretreatment with anaerobic pretreatment.

This article is devoted to the question of calculating production costs for two types of cylindrical grinding machines: conventional and computer numerically controlled (CNC). Operation sequences appropriate to small-batch production are considered. A generalized form of the cost equation for each machine is presented. Specific forms of these equations are presented for the most common shapes of ground shafts.

The suitability of grinding wheel for grinding is determined by the CSGW† condition shaped in the dressing process. A four element set of sensitive statistic parameters was used for the assessment of the CSGW condition. The numerical values of the parameter set were evaluated from CSGW progilograms following the computer analysis. In the authors' opinion, the laboratory method introduced in this paper develops the knowledge of the underrated dressing parameters which have an affect on CSGW condition. It also helps to take the advantage of the potentials of working grinding wheels.

Results of laboratory studies of anaerobic lagoon performance have been analyzed to yield kinetic data applicable for design. None of the models currently used fitted the data. A novel interpretation has been proposed based on the dependence of effluent quality on volumetric organic loading. It is suggested that the removal takes place in consecutive stages at a progressively decreasing rate (expressed in kg m−3 day−1). In the case of dilute piggery wastes from large farms the first stage of rapid sedimentation takes only a few hours and achieves some 55% removal of COD. The second stage, biochemical removal, proceeds at 1·7 kg COD m−3 day−1 for about 3 days HRT and then the removal rate drops down to 0·2kg COD m−3 day−1

The study was performed in draw-fill 3-dm 3 reactors operated continuously in a flow-through mode, without sludge recycle. The influent concentration of substrate, consisting of piggery wastes from a large industrial farm, was 12·5–14·5 g O 2 dm −3 as COD, the retention time was increased incrementally from 1·5 to 30 days. The concentration of volatile suspended solids was stabilised at 1·8 g dm −3 , after about 8 days retention, the minimum time necessary for full development of methanogenic conditions. Methane content in digester gas increased steadily from 50% at 8 days to 68% at 30 days retention. Effluent COD decreased steadily from 7·0 g dm −3 at 8 days to 2·5 g dm −3 at 30 days retention. Unit biogas production from the unit COD load removed showed an unexpected increase beyond the theoretical value of 0·334 m 3 kg −1 COD removed. Detailed kinetic analysis of the course of anaerobic biodegradation has shown the process to follow the first-order and pseudo-first-order equations only when the nonbiodegradable fraction was subtracted from the total organic loading. Inapplicability of the Monod type equations for data interpretation is indicated.