Search

This paper presents a generic component for Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)-based decision support in risk management. The component was originally dedicated to railway transportation issues; however, its generality enabled it to extend its functionality for other domains too. To show the generality of the module and possibility of its application in other domains, an environmental case was run. Its goal was to select methods for planning the post-mining heap revitalization process, especially decision-making focusing on the selection of the most advantageous revitalization option on the basis of the Analytic Hierarchy Process and different, non-financial factors, e.g., social, environmental, technological, political, etc. Taking into account expert responses, the suggested solution was related to energy production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Transvenous lead extraction (TLE) is recommended in cases of local and systemic infections related to cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). Additionally, TLE is indicated in the event of lead damage or CIED malfunction. The extraction procedure is associated with a risk of life-threatening complications. Objectives. The aim of the EVO registry was to assess the safety and efficacy of birotational Evolution tool usage. Materials and methods. This registry study was prospectively conducted in 8 high-volume implantation centers in Poland. The study included 133 patients aged 63.5 ±15.1 years, and 76.69% were male. Indications for the procedure were: local or systemic infection (33.1%) and lead dysfunction (66.9%). The number of leads extracted varied from 1 (39.84%) to 3 (9.77%). Results. Clinical procedural success was achieved in 99.1% of cases. A total of 226 leads were extracted, and 206 used the Evolution system. Two procedural strategies were identified while using the Evolution system: (1) usage of locking stylet, propylene sheaths and the Evolution system (118 leads, 52%) - group A; (2) usage of locking stylet and Evolution (88 leads, 39%) - group B. There were no differences in the number of complications between these 2 groups. The extraction time was significantly shorter (p = 0.02) in group B than in group A. Major complications occurred in 5.2% of cases with 2 intraprocedural deaths. Minor complications occurred in 1.5% of patients. Conclusions. The registry confirmed the efficacy and relative safety of the birotational Evolution sheath. Using the rotational sheath as a first attempt significantly reduces extraction time without compromising its safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are several goals of the two-dimensional data analysis: one may be interested in searching for groups of similar objects (clustering), another one may be focused on searching for some dependencies between a specified one and other variables (classification, regression, associate rules induction), and finally, some may be interested in serching for well-defined patterns in the data called biclusters. It was already proved that there exists a mathematically proven symmetry between some patterns in the matrix and implicants of data-defined Boolean function. This paper provides the new look for a specific pattern search—the pattern named the δ -shifting pattern. The shifting pattern is interesting, as it accounts for constant fluctuations in data, i.e., it captures situations in which all the values in the pattern move up or down for one dimension, maintaining the range amplitude for all the dimensions. Such a behavior is very common in real data, e.g., in the analysis of gene expression data. In such a domain, a subset of genes might go up or down for a subset of patients or experimental conditions, identifying functionally coherent categories. A δ -shifting pattern meets the necessity of shifting pattern induction together with the bias of the real values acquisition where the original shifts may be disturbed with some outer conditions. Experiments with a real dataset show the potential of our approach at finding biclusters with δ -shifting patterns, providing excellent performance. It was possible to find the 12 × 9 pattern in the 112 × 9 input data with M S R = 0.00653 . The experiments also revealed that δ -shifting patterns are quite difficult to be found by some well-known methods of biclustering, as these are not designed to focus on shifting patterns—results comparable due to M S R had much more variability (in terms of δ) than patterns found with Boolean reasoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problems posed by seed sensitivity to desiccation and aging have motivated the development of various techniques for mitigating their detrimental effects. The redox priming of seeds in antioxidant solution to improve their postharvest performance is one of the approaches. Spermidine (Spd) was tested as an invigorating solution on nondormant recalcitrant (desiccation-sensitive) seeds of the silver maple (Acer saccharinum L.). The treatment resulted in an 8–10% increase in germination capacity in seeds subjected to mild and severe desiccation, while in aged seeds stored for 6 months, no significant change was observed. The cellular redox milieu, genetic stability, mitochondrial structure and function were investigated to provide information about the cellular targets of Spd activity. Spermidine improved the antioxidative capacity, especially the activity of catalase, and cellular membrane stability, protected genome integrity from oxidative damage and increased the efficiency of mitochondria. However, it also elicited a hydrogen peroxide burst. Therefore, it seems that redox priming in nondormant seeds that are highly sensitive to desiccation, although it positively affected desiccated seed performance, may not be a simple solution to reinvigorate stored seeds with a low-efficiency antioxidant system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Special Issue contains 2 reviews and 17 research papers related to the following topics: Time series forecasting [[1], [3], [5]]; Image analysis [[6]]; Medical applications [[7]]; Knowledge graph analysis [[9]]; Cybersecurity [[11], [13]]; Traffic analysis [[14]]; Agriculture [[16]]; Environmental data analysis [[17]]. In [[2]], a time series analysis was applied in a different manner: their prediction of the high stock dividend (HSD) was based on a sequence of typical machine learning approaches instead of state-of-the-art methods such as ARIMA or SMA. The authors of [[1]] focused on short time series forecasting in the domain of crime data (thefts, shoplifting, vehicular crimes, and burglaries in Mexico). In this paper, the authors attempt to answer the questions what is air traffic complexity and which air traffic data variables have greater impacts on increases in complexity?. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Zeszyty Teoretyczne Rachunkowości is the property of Stowarzyszenie Ksiegowych w Polsce Rada Naukowa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The conservation of the genetic resources of old trees is crucial to their ecological role but is extremely difficult, especially for oak species (Quercus spp.) displaying recalcitrance in seed and vegetative propagation methods. Our study aimed to assess the regenerative potential of Quercus robur trees of different ages (up to 800 years) during micropropagation. We also aimed to determine how in vitro conditions can influence in vitro regeneration responses. Lignified branches collected from 67 selected trees were cultivated ex vitro in culture pots at 25 °C to obtain epicormic shoots (explant sources). The explants were cultivated on an agar medium supplemented with 0.8 mg L−1 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) for at least 21 months. In a second experiment, two different shoot multiplication conditions (temporary immersion—RITA® bioreactor and agar medium) and two culture medium formulations (Woody Plant Medium and modified Quoirin and Lepoivre medium) were tested. The results showed that the mean length of the epicormic shoots obtained in a pot culture was a function of donor age and was similar among the group of younger trees (ca. 20–200 years), and varied between older trees (ca. 300–800 years). The efficiency of in vitro shoot multiplication strictly depended on the genotype. A sustainable in vitro culture (defined as survival after 6 months) was only possible for half of the tested old donor trees, even when they survived the first month of in vitro growth. A continuous monthly increase in the number of in vitro cultured shoots was reported in younger oaks and in some old oaks. We found a significant effect of the culture system and the macro- and micronutrient composition on in vitro shoot growth. This is the first report demonstrating that the in vitro culture can be successfully applied to the propagation of even 800-year-old pedunculate oak trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the 20th edition of the Congress organized by the Academy for Multidisciplinary Neurotraumatology (AMN), reflecting on two decades of advancements in neurotrauma. It mentions the the AMN's commitment to advancing neurotrauma research and education through international collaborations and initiatives like the Neurotrauma Treatment Simulation Center (NTSC).

It seems to be a truism to say that we should pay more and more attention to network traffic safety. Such a goal may be achieved with many different approaches. In this paper, we put our attention on the increase in network traffic safety based on the continuous monitoring of network traffic statistics and detecting possible anomalies in the network traffic description. The developed solution, called the anomaly detection module, is mostly dedicated to public institutions as the additional component of the network security services. Despite the use of well-known anomaly detection methods, the novelty of the module is based on providing an exhaustive strategy of selecting the best combination of models as well as tuning the models in a much faster offline mode. It is worth emphasizing that combined models were able to achieve 100% balanced accuracy level of specific attack detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ageing and deterioration of seeds is a major problem for the maintenance of seed quality and viability during long-term storage. Prediction of early stages of seed deterioration in order to point out the plantlets' regeneration time is a major challenge of successful storage. In preserved seeds, damages accumulate within cells at the rate mainly related to their moisture content and temperature of storage. Current research reveals global alterations in DNA methylation in lipid-rich intermediate seeds during desiccation and storage at various regimes covering nonoptimal and optimal conditions. We show for the first time that monitoring of 5-methylcytosine (m5C) level in seeds can be used as a truly universal viability marker regardless of postharvest category of seeds and their composition. For seeds stored up to three years, in varied conditions, moisture content, temperature, and time of storage had significant influence on seedling emergence and DNA methylation (p < 0.05). Similarities among lipid-rich intermediate and orthodox seeds regarding different reactions of embryonic axes and cotyledons to desiccation are newly revealed. Along with previous studies on seeds dramatically different in desiccation tolerance (recalcitrant vs. orthodox), results regarding lipid-rich seeds positioned in-between (intermediate) prove that maintaining global DNA methylation status is crucial for maintaining seed viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the article is to present the profile of Professor Alicja Jaruga, the founder of the “Lodz School of Accounting”, a researcher with recognised scientific and didactic achievements. Professor Jaruga was a true enthusiast of accounting science, to which she devoted 60 years of her professional life. She inspired her subordinates and co-workers to take up innovative and difficult research challenges. The article consists of three parts and a summary. The first part presents the essence of the organization’s accounting information system, which is the subject of research by Professor Alicja Jaruga. The second contains a biographical outline of Professor Jaruga, while the third presents her various facets – in particular as an outstanding researcher, educator of scientific staff and an ambassador of Polish science abroad. This study is the result of an analysis of the literature on the subject, including archival materials, using the biographical method. The facts and opinions presented in the article confirm the phenomenon of the Professor’s personality – her huge contribution to the development of the science and practice of Polish accounting, the creation of the Lodz School of Accounting, the promotion of academic staff and the improvement of the academic education process in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seeds are the most commonly used source of storage material to preserve the genetic diversity of plants. However, prior to the deposition of seeds in gene banks, several questions need to be addressed. Here, we illustrate the scheme that can be used to ensure that the most optimal conditions are identified to enable the long-term storage of seeds. The main questions that need to be answered pertain to the production of viable seeds by plants, the availability of proper protocols for dormancy alleviation and germination, seed tolerance to desiccation and cold storage at −20 °C. Finally, it is very important to fully understand the capability or lack thereof for seeds or their explants to tolerate cryogenic conditions. The proper storage regimes for orthodox, intermediate and recalcitrant seeds are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biclustering is a two-dimensional data analysis technique that, applied to a matrix, searches for a subset of rows and columns that intersect to produce a submatrix with given, expected features. Such an approach requires different methods to those of typical classification or regression tasks. In recent years it has become possible to express biclustering goals in the form of Boolean reasoning. This paper presents a new, heuristic approach to bicluster induction in binary data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the role which Member State-led infringement proceedings can play in overcoming the EU's rule of law crisis, and hypothesizes that it can prove helpful in breaking the current impasse. It begins by understanding why the EU's "traditional" rule of law enforcement mechanisms—such as Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and the recent rule of law conditionality regulation—have failed (Section 2), before exploring how infringement proceedings operate, what their shortcomings are, and why Scheppele's proposed "systemic infringement proceedings" are important (Section 3). It then seeks to apply said findings to the rule of law crisis, using two recent developments as an example: The oral proceedings of Commission v. Poland (Régime disciplinaire des juges) and a recent vote by the Dutch Parliament compelling its government to take Poland before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) (Section 4). Finally, it explores the broader constitutional implications of relying on Article 259 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) to overcome the rule of law crisis: It discusses Kochenov's notion of "biting intergovernmentalism", what Article 259 illustrates about the European Union's (EU) hybrid constitution, and how intergovernmental legal instruments can facilitate further European integration (Section 5). It concludes by restating and summing up article's hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

*Background and Aims Epigenetic regulation plays an important role in the management of plant growth, development and response to stress factors, and several reports have indicated that DNA methylation plays a critical role in seed development and viability. This study examines changes in 5-methylcytosine (m5C) levels in the DNA of seeds during ageing, a process that has important implications for plant conservation and agriculture. *Methods Changes in the global level of m5C were measured in mature seeds of oak, Quercus robur. The extent of DNA methylation was measured using a protocol based on two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography. Viability of seeds was determined by germination and seedling emergence tests. *Key Results An ageing-related decrease in total m5 C during storage of recalcitrant seeds was highly and significantly correlated with a decrease in seed viability, as reflected by a reduction in germination (r= 0-8880) and seedling emergence (r = 0-8269). *Conclusions The decrease in viability during ageing of Q. robur seeds is highly correlated with a global decline in the amount of m5C in genomic DNA, and it is possible that this may represent a typical response to ageing and senescence in recalcitrant seeds. Potential mechanisms that drive changes in genomic DNA methylation during ageing are discussed, together with their implications for seed viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biclustering is a two-dimensional data analysis technique, where submatrices of a given data matrix are looked for. Its extension into three-dimensional data is called triclustering. In the paper, a new generalized look into n-dimensional binary data n-clustering is presented. The searching is performed in terms of the Boolean reasoning paradigm, where the original case (the data) is coded into the Boolean formula and its prime implicants are equivalent to the solutions of the original issue. The correctness (finding n-clusters containing only 0s or 1s) and maximality (the n-cluster cannot be expanded in any dimension without the correctness requirement violation) of such an approach have strong mathematical foundations. The paper also shows the application of Boolean reasoning-based n-clustering for small three- and four-dimensional artificial data as well as for some biomedical ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ex situ preservation of genetic resources is an essential strategy for the conservation of plant biodiversity. In this regard, seed storage is the most convenient and efficient way of preserving germplasm for future plant breeding efforts. A better understanding of the molecular changes that occur during seed desiccation and aging is necessary to improve conservation protocols, as well as real-time methods for monitoring seed quality. In the present study, we assessed changes in the level of genomic 5-methylcytosine (5mC) in seeds of Populus nigra L. by 2D-TLC. Epigenetic changes were characterized in response to several seed storage regimes. Our results demonstrate that P. nigra seeds represent an intermediate type of post-harvest behavior, falling between recalcitrant and orthodox seeds. This was also true for the epigenetic response of P. nigra seeds to external factors. A crucial question is whether aging in seeds is initiated by a decline in the level of 5mC, or if epigenetic changes induce a process that leads to deterioration. In our study, we demonstrate for the first time that 5mC levels decrease during storage and that the decline can be detected before any changes in seed germination are evident. Once P. nigra seeds reached an 8–10% reduction in the level of 5mC, a substantial decrease in germination occurred. The decline in the level of 5mC appears to be a critical parameter underlying the rapid deterioration of intermediate seeds. Thus, the measurement of 5mC can be a fast, real-time method for assessing asymptomatic aging in stored seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zeszyty Teoretyczne Rachunkowości is the property of Stowarzyszenie Ksiegowych w Polsce Rada Naukowa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Information about the 2nd Scientific Seminar held on November 17, 2014 at the Lodz Branch of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, Poland is presented. The event was organized by the academy's Accounting Science Committee which focused on the contributions of accounting professor Alicia Jaruga to the accounting research trends development. Lecturers were college teachers including Ewa Walińska, Zbigniew Luty, and Alexander Welfe.