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The quality of Food depends on the nature of the ingredients used to prepare it, if the ingredient remains in best eminence without any adulteration then only we can get the pure quality food. This study aimed to detect the quality and adulterants in commonly used food ingredients and spices from local markets of Kolhapur city of India, which are usually used to prepare local ethnic food. Some tests from (the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) are performed to check adulterants like insoluble impurities, chalk powder, washing soda, red lead salts, brick powder, and artificial colors in food ingredients. 5 sugar samples, 8 chili powder samples, 3 Jaggery samples, 6 turmeric powder samples, 6 common salt samples, 2 black pepper samples, 2 ghee or butter samples, 3 dal samples, 3 wheat flour samples, 2 honey samples, 2 cinnamon samples, and 3 coffee powder samples were analyzed. 2 chili, 1 black pepper, 1 cinnamon, 1 Jaggery 1 Honey, and 1 coffee powder samples are found with adulterants whereas most were without adulterants. Most of the local food ingredients are of good quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A very rare secondary Zn-Al phosphate, kleemanite, was found in association with Al-rich chalcosiderite and krásnoite on samples from the Huber stock in the Krásno deposit near Horní Slavkov (Karlovy Vary Region, Czech Republic). Kleemanite forms small white needle-like to fibrous crystals clustering into urchin-like aggregates up to 2 mm in size. Individual crystals reach a length of up to 0.5 mm. The mineral grows on the walls of the corrosion cavity of the fluorapatite aggregate in quartz gangue. Its chemical composition corresponds to the empirical formula Zn1.02(Al2.04 Fe0.09)Σ2.13(PO4)2.00[(OH)2.41(F)0.04] Σ2.45·3H2 O. Kleemanite is monoclinic, unit-cell parameters refined from X-ray powder diffraction data are a 7.286(8), b 7.194(5), c 9.774(8) Å, β 110.2(6)° and V 480.9(7) ų . The Raman spectrum of kleemanite has not been published before and is included in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to examine the effect size of depression in a Turkish sample with respect to gender and developmental periods. The studies of dissertation and articles completed during the period of 2004-2018 and covering Turkish sample have been examined through the method of Meta Analysis. The studies carried out, with the help of the depression measuring instruments, on a Turkish sample that has not taken any psychiatric diagnosis until that time, have been scanned through, by the use of the data bases such as; Google Academic, EBSCOhost and Web of Science. The criterion based sampling, which is one of the methods of sample selection, has been utilized. In the Meta Analysis; the effect value has been calculated through the use of the Cone Chart and Rank Relevancy Test of Begg and Mazumdar, Forest Chart analysis and Hedges’s g. The random effects model has been utilized in the analysis. The general effect size of the depression with respect to gender has been found to be at low level and on women at relatively higher level. The effect size; for childhood and adolescence periods, which are considered to be the developmental periods, has been found out to be at low level, on young adults and adults at insignificant level, on elders at medium level and on women at relatively higher level. The results have been discussed, within the scope of literature, from the point of view of the effects onwoman depression and elderliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fourth‐grade students were introduced to a detailed process approach to examining mentor texts and then transferring their newfound knowledge of author craft to their own independent writing. The EASE strategy was created as a way to scaffold students from merely noticing the exceptional moves that authors make to adeptly applying these techniques. In an effort to read like writers and then write like readers, students were taught to closely examine powerful writing craft and assess why the author may have chosen to write in that particular way. They were also required to suggest other ways to write the excerpt and envision where they might use a similar move in a current or upcoming writing project. Through small‐group writing conferences and writing samples, students showcased how they made direct connections between mentor texts and their narratives and reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soft sensors based on Gaussian mixture models (GMM) have been widely used in industrial process systems for modeling the nonlinearity, non-Gaussianity, and uncertainties. However, there are still some challenging issues in developing high-accuracy GMM-based soft sensors. First, labeled samples are usually scarce due to technical or economical limitations, causing traditional supervised GMM-based soft sensing methods fail to provide satisfactory performance. Second, tremendous amounts of unlabeled samples are gathered, nevertheless, how to fully exploit those unlabeled samples in terms of improving both the predictive accuracy and computational efficiency remains unresolved. In this paper, in order to deal with these issues, two computationally efficient soft sensing methods, namely the parallel computing-based semisupervised Dirichlet process mixture models (P–S $^2$ DPMM) and stochastic gradient descent-based S $^2$ DPMM (SGD–S $^2$ DPMM), are proposed. The S $^2$ DPMM is first developed to mine information contained in both labeled and unlabeled samples for predictive accuracy enhancement, and subsequently is extended to the P–S $^2$ DPMM and SGD–S $^2$ DPMM to handle large-scale process data with sufficient and limited computing resources, respectively. Two case studies are carried out on real-world industrial processes, and the results obtained demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The collection and analysis of hair samples offers higher chances of identifying people addicted to drugs than urine samples. In our study we propose hair analysis as a useful epidemiological indicator to identify the extent of cocaine use in different medico-legal situations: currently the epidemiological trends of substance abuse are estimated indirectly, mainly through large-scale surveys or through medical and crime statistics that may be too generic. We conducted a cross-sectional study, analysing hair samples, collected for various medico-legal purposes, from living men belonging to different categories, in order to complete a previous study conducted in 2016. Of 104 samples collected for different purposes, 55 were positive for drugs (52.88% of total) and, in this group, positivity for cocaine was found in 28 cases (26.92% of total), with a mean concentration of 4.58 ng/mg of hair, and a mean concentration of 0.75 ng/mg of hair of its major metabolite (benzoylecgonine). This datum is in line with the Italian Superior Health Institute reports, which declared a reduction in the use of cannabis and benzodiazepines, but a notable increase in cocaine use. Despite its limitations, this study adds further information to the previous one conducted in the same context, and furnishes an interesting picture of the phenomenon of cocaine addiction in Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Drug companies rely on their marketing activities to influence physicians. Previous studies showed that pharmaceutical companies succeeded to manage physicians prescribing behavior in developed countries. However, very little studies investigated the impact of pharmaceutical marketing strategies on prescribing pattern in developing countries, middle-eastern countries. The objective of this research was to examine the influence of drug companies' strategies on physicians' prescription behavior in the Lebanese market concerning physicians' demographic variables quantitatively. Moreover, this study tested whether Lebanese physicians considered gifts and samples acceptance as an ethical practice.Methods: Sampling was done by using a non-probability method. An online cross-sectional study was conducted through WhatsApp. A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted during the months of February and March 2018. Cronbach's Alpha reliability coefficient was calculated. Data were statistically analyzed by using IBM SPSS statistics version 24 software. Chi-square and Cramer's v tests were used to finding sign correlation, and Spearman test was used to measure the strength and direction of a relationship between variables.Results: Results found that pharmaceutical marketing strategies are correlated to physicians' prescribing behavior. We demonstrated that the majority of the promotional tools tested were mostly or sometimes motivating physicians to prescribe promoted drugs. The major tools that physicians agreed to be mostly motivated by are visits of medical representatives and drug samples while sales calls made by pharmaceutical companies are the less influential tool. Regarding gift acceptance, this study demonstrated that physicians consider gifts' acceptance as a non-ethical practice. Results showed that most physicians use free samples to treat their patients. We demonstrated that there is a relationship between physicians' prescribing pattern and their age, gender and the location of practice.Conclusions: Findings of this study provided an insightful work, serving as one of the first humble steps in the imminent direction of merging this paper with the previous literature. From a managerial perspective, pharmaceutical marketing managers of drug companies can use the research findings to design better their strategies directed to the Lebanese physicians who can also benefit from the results obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concentrations of 134+137Cs and 133Cs in aquatic macrophytes, water, and sediment were measured in samples collected from Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. The concentrations of 137Cs in submerged and floating-leaved plants were higher than the values for emergent plants according to their main Cs uptake mode. The geometric mean water-to-plant concentration ratio for 137Cs and 133Cs was comparable observed in submerged and floating-leaved plants, while the geometric mean sediment-to-plant concentration ratio for 137Cs in emergent plants was higher than that of 133Cs, which suggest that the mobility of Fukushima accident-derived 137Cs is not in steady state 4-5 years after the accident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective To assess the availability of long acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods in Los Angeles County through providers participating in a California State Medicaid State Plan Amendment Program called Family Planning, Access, Care and Treatment (Family PACT). Study design This was a cross-sectional telephone survey utilizing "secret shopper" methodology. From 855 Family PACT providers in Los Angeles County in 2015, a representative sample of 400 providers was selected for study. Young female researchers posing as potential patients called each sampled clinic to ask a scripted series of questions about LARC availability for Family PACT patients in that practice. Results All but one eligible practice (99.7%) responded to our questions. Among the 336 responding practices, 284 said they accepted Family PACT. Of those accepting Family PACT, staff answering the telephone call at 61% said they did not provide any LARC method onsite, 2% provided all currently available LARC methods, and 6% provided same-day placement of any LARC. Conclusion The majority of Family PACT practices surveyed said that they did not provide any LARC onsite, and very few provided same-day LARC placement despite easy patient enrollment procedures, relatively reasonable reimbursement and concerted efforts to increase LARC use. Substantial barriers to greater uptake may rest at the provider level with either actual unavailability of LARC or staff perception of unavailability. Implications Only a minority of Family PACT practices said that LARC methods were available onsite, which imposes substantial restriction to access for women who are entitled to have access without cost. Other states developing programs should be aware of this challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Collecting samples is a challenging task for face recognition, especially for some real-world applications such as law enhancement and ID card identification, where there is usually single sample per person (SSPS) used to train a face recognition system. To extract discriminative features from the small size samples, in this paper we propose virtual samples via bidirectional feature selection with global and local structure preservation (VS-BFS-GL) to augment the number of training samples. In VS-BFS-GL, bidirectional feature selection is developed, which introduces L 2,1 norm to explore the face variations from both horizontal and vertical directions. Further, to include more variations in the virtual images, the global structure information and sample-specified local structure information of the SSPP training set are considered. By integrating bidirectional feature selection, global and local structure, the limited training samples are fully utilized and more knowledge are mined. To further improve the effectiveness of VS-BFS-GL, an auxiliary database containing different face variations can be used to explore the local structure information. We extensively evaluated the proposed approach on AR and FERET database. The promising recognition results demonstrate that VS-BFS-GL is robust to expression, pose and partial occlusion variations in the faces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper a method is presented based on the use of active infrared thermography for the detection of subsurface graphical features in artworks. A theoretical model for the thermographic signal describing the physical mechanisms which allow the identification of the buried features has been proposed and thereafter it has been applied to the analysis of the results obtained on specifically made test samples. It is shown that the proposed model predictions adequately describe the experimental results obtained on the test samples. A comparative analysis between the proposed technique and infrared reflectography is also presented. The comparison shows that active thermography can be more effective in the detection of features buried below infrared translucent layers and, in addition, that it can provide information about the depth of the detected features, particularly in highly IR diffusing materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The self-heating effect of a laboratory X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanner causes slight change in its imaging geometry, which induces translation and dilatation (i.e., artificial displacement and strain) in reconstructed volume images recorded at different times. To realize high-accuracy internal full-field deformation measurements using digital volume correlation (DVC), these artificial displacements and strains associated with unstable CT imaging must be eliminated. In this work, an effective and easily implemented reference sample compensation (RSC) method is proposed for in-situ systematic error correction in DVC. The proposed method utilizes a stationary reference sample, which is placed beside the test sample to record the artificial displacement fields caused by the self-heating effect of CT scanners. The detected displacement fields are then fitted by a parametric polynomial model, which is used to remove the unwanted artificial deformations in the test sample. Rescan tests of a stationary sample and real uniaxial compression tests performed on copper foam specimens demonstrate the accuracy, efficacy, and practicality of the presented RSC method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of the geochemical-pedological researches based on the lead concentrations in soil of the Tuzla's urban area. The main goal of the research was to determine to what extent, the urban area of Tuzla was contaminated by lead and to determine the pollutant origin. The 129 soil samples were collected in situ on the of area about 100 km2. The testing of the lead concentration in soil samples was performed by mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with detection range of 0.02 to 10.000 ppm. The exceeding of the maximum permissible concentrations of lead (as defined by the „Pravilnik o utvrđivanju dozvoljenih količina štetnih i opasnih tvari u zemljištu i metode njihovog ispitivanja”), was recorded in eight soil samples (samples 108, 170, 171, 182, 187, 189, 195 and 244), 6.20% of the total analyzed. The exceeded lead concentrations range from 114.0 - 190.82 ppm and the average value is 146.72 ppm. The concentration of lead in the soil, which is within the limits of the doses, ranges from 14.14 to 60.74 ppm, and the mean value is 33.68 ppm. Locations of elevated lead concentrations are closely related to the main road, resulting that the contamination is the result of the anthropogenic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The observed volumes obtained by several volume calculation methods for the butt log volume of Calibrain pine (Pinus brutia Ten.). These butt logs were compared with true volume of each butt log which was determined by aggregating the volumes of measured short (1m) using Smalian’s formula. 150 of sample trees were measured into Zaweta and Atrush districts of Dohuk province. The sample trees presented diameter at breast height from 13.9 to 37.6 cm. and total height from 8 - 19.2 meter. The volume of each butt log was estimated by using (Smalian’s, Huber’s, Newton’s, Hossfeld’s, Bruce’s, Sorenson’s and Centroid method). The accuracy of these seven procedures was analyzed considering volume of butt log lengths 6-m. The results showed that Centroid method was superior for all volumes. As expected, Sorenson formula was the procedure with the worst performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentrations of eight essential (Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Se, V, and Zn) and five toxic elements (Al, As, Cd, Hg, and Pb) were determined in 457 samples of commonly consumed fresh tropical fruit including bananas (Musa acuminata), kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa), mangos (Mangifera indica), and pineapple (Ananas comosus) from supermarkets from Seoul, Busan, Gangneung, Daegu, Daejeon, and Gwangju, South Korea. The samples were digested by microwave assisted combustion using HNO3 and H2O2 and determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The Hg concentrations were evaluated by furnace-gold amalgamation direct mercury analysis. The techniques were validated by linearity, limits of detection and quantification, precision, recovery, and the analysis of a NIST-1570a spinach leaves certified reference material. The concentrations of essential elements varied considerably among the tropical fruit. Overall, the tropical fruit was higher in Mn (0.027-13.2 μg/g) and Zn (0.514-2.20 μg/g), while lower in Co (0.002-0.005 μg/g) and V (0.001-0.002 μg/g). The concentrations (μg/g) of toxic elements were 0.001 (kiwi) to 0.003 (mango) for As and Cd, 0.0004 (pineapple) to 0.002 (banana) for Hg, and 0.005 (kiwi) to 0.013 (mango) for Pb. The calculated values of estimated dietary intake, target hazard quotients and hazard indices were lower than one and the safety limits established by World Health Organization. The tropical fruits were therefore safe and did not pose any threat to consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graph-based semi-supervised classification uses a graph to capture the relationship between samples and exploits label propagation techniques on the graph to predict the labels of unlabeled samples. However, it is difficult to construct a graph that faithfully describes the relationship between high-dimensional samples. Recently, low-rank representation has been introduced to construct a graph, which can preserve the global structure of high-dimensional samples and help to train accurate transductive classifiers. In this paper, we take advantage of low-rank representation for graph construction and propose an inductive semi-supervised classifier called Semi-Supervised Classification based on Low-Rank Representation (SSC-LRR). SSC-LRR first utilizes a linearized alternating direction method with adaptive penalty to compute the coefficient matrix of low-rank representation of samples. Then, the coefficient matrix is adopted to define a graph. Finally, SSC-LRR incorporates this graph into a graph-based semi-supervised linear classifier to classify unlabeled samples. Experiments are conducted on four widely used facial datasets to validate the effectiveness of the proposed SSC-LRR and the results demonstrate that SSC-LRR achieves higher accuracy than other related methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumers demonstrated bivariate conceptualization, which resulted in an independent relationship between their liking and disliking ratings using the liking and disliking unidirectional scales (LDUS) from our previous consumer test studies. Although this provided the rationale for the use of the LDUS in consumer tests, the additional time and resources required for separate measurements of liking and disliking may prevent widespread adoption of the LDUS. The objective of this study was to compare the sample discrimination performance and reliability of one-sample measurement using the evaluative space grid (ESG) and consecutive scale presentation (CSP) to the performance of the originally published two-sample measurement scheme using the monadic scale presentation (MSP). Similar distribution fit was found for each sample by Kruskal–Wallis one-way analysis of variance with 10,000 simulations across the MSP, ESG and CSP ( P > 0.05). Significantly higher liking ratings for 6 out of 10 samples were observed for the ESG compared to the ratings for the MSP and/or CSP. No significant difference was found in either the liking ratings between the MSP and CSP, or in the disliking ratings among the MSP, ESG and CSP. The subjects were more consistent in their disliking ratings across the three scale presentations compared to their liking ratings. Based on the results, the ESG had a similar discrimination performance, but the liking rating was consistently higher than those of the MSP and CSP due to the interaction of liking and disliking measurements. Reliable sample discrimination performance with no significant differences was observed in liking and disliking ratings by the CSP when compared to the MSP. Therefore, measuring consumers’ liking and disliking percepts with one-sample presentation using the CSP is deemed to be a method that is comparable to the two-sample presentation of the MSP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – In recent years, the freemium model is popular with online users in internet markets. Regarding operation, the characteristics of the freemium business model are the focus of all websites and software managers. However, research lacks the literature on the development of the dimensions of the freemium business model and validation of measurement. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to probe into the development of the dimensions of the freemium business model and validate the measurement. Design/methodology/approach – First, by related literature and practical observations, this study reorganizes the characteristics of the freemium business model and develops dimensions and items of the freemium business model to design the items of scale. The development of scale is based on the procedures of standardized testing, including draft, expert consultation, and pretest and test analysis, in order to test the reliability and validity of the scale. This study treated online users as the questionnaire subjects and analyzed 1,016 valid questionnaires. Findings – Regarding empirical analysis, confirmatory factor analysis is conducted to test the internal quality of the model, including composite reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity. According to the empirical result, the freemium business model can be divided into basic free tier, two-sided markets, revenue sharing, service convenience, and network effect, which are the key factors of users’ selection of freemium products or services. This study developed 25 items of scale for the freemium business model. Originality/value – Finally, this study plans to develop a scale of the freemium business model, which can serve as an appropriate measurement tool to measure the freemium business model, as well as help websites and software developers to plan or execute the introduction of freemium products and services. Hence, it can develop and design products and services meeting the needs of online consumers. Website and software managers can adjust their products and services to satisfy online users’ needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Free prescription drug samples provided in physician offices can lead to exposure misclassification in pharmacoepidemiologic studies that rely on pharmacy claims data.Methods: We quantified drug-specific sample provision rates based on nationally projected data from a survey of over 3200 US office-based physicians for 1993-2013.Results: Between 2009 and 2013, a total of 44.7 % of newly initiated brand-only sitagliptin but only 3.6 % of generically available metformin therapy was provided as samples. We observed similar discrepancies between newly initiated rosuvastatin and simvastatin, dabigatran and warfarin, atomoxetine and methylphenidate, and between oral antibiotic drugs. During continued therapy, sample use was still present though to a lesser extent (sitagliptin 17.0 %, rosuvastatin 23.9 %), and remained high for some oral contraceptives (norethindrone 55.8 %). Oral contraceptives had the longest average days of sample supply (levonorgestrel, continued use 85.1 days). The average days of supply for all other chronically used study drugs ranged from 13.4 (dabigatran, new use) to 25.3 (exenatide, continued use) per sample provided. From 1993 to 2013, we found pronounced drops in sample provisions over time coinciding with more recent generic approval dates.Conclusions: We observed markedly differential exposure to medication samples between branded and generic drugs. This can introduce bias in pharmacoepidemiologic studies, especially when adverse events that occur soon after drug initiation are of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financial ties between physicians and pharmaceutical companies are pervasive and controversial. However, little is known about how patients perceive such ties. This paper describes an experiment examining how a national sample of U.S. adults perceived a variety of financial relationships between physicians and drug companies. Each respondent read a single scenario about a hypothetical physician and his financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry; scenarios varied in terms of payment type of (e.g., payment for meals vs. consulting fees) and amount. Respondents then evaluated the physician on several dimensions (e.g., expertise, trustworthiness, knowledge of new treatments, moral character, focus on patients' interests). Findings revealed that perceptions of the physician were more strongly influenced by payment type than by payment amount. Specifically, respondents were quite critical of doctors who owned drug company stock or received industry payments for meals and lodging, but were more forgiving of physicians who received free drug samples (which were perceived as benefiting patients) or consulting fees (which were seen as signaling physician expertise). Interestingly, physicians who received no payments, while seen as honest, were also viewed by some respondents as inexperienced or uninformed about new treatments. Implications for public policy and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Documents relating to the Kellogg lithographic firm of Hartford, Connecticut, provide insights into how nineteenth-century lithographers distributed and sold the thousands of popular prints that they produced. Letters at the Connecticut Historical Society and copies of other letters still in private hands document the early years of the firm when traveling salesmen sold prints door to door. A salesman's sample book from the late 1860s reflects a shift in focus from pictorial prints to corporate job printing, which allowed the firm to prosper into the twentieth century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The labeling of specific molecules and their artificial control in living cells are powerful techniques for investigating intracellular molecular dynamics. To use these techniques, molecular compounds (hereinafter described simply as 'samples') need to be loaded into cells. Electroporation techniques are exploited to load membrane-impermeant samples into cells. Here, we developed a new electroporator with four special characteristics. (1) Electric pulses are applied to the adherent cells directly, without removing them from the substratum. (2) Samples can be loaded into the adherent cells while observing them on the stage of an inverted microscope. (3) Only 2µl of sample solution is sufficient. (4) The device is very easy to use, as the cuvette, which is connected to the tip of a commercially available auto-pipette, is manipulated by hand. Using our device, we loaded a fluorescent probe of actin filaments, Alexa Fluor 546 phalloidin, into migrating keratocytes. The level of this probe in the cells could be easily adjusted by changing its concentration in the electroporation medium. Samples could be loaded into keratocytes, neutrophil-like HL-60 cells and Dictyostelium cells on a coverslip, and keratocytes on an elastic silicone substratum. The new device should be useful for a wide range of adherent cells and allow electroporation for cells on various types of the substrata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives D is the most immunogenic blood group antigen. About 1% of whites carry an altered RHD allele leading to quantitative or qualitative changes in the antigen D expression. T201R and F223V encoded by 602C>G and 667T>G are specific amino acid substitutions of the weak D type 4 cluster of African origin, comprising the alleles RHD*09.01, RHD*09.02, RHD*09.03, RHD*09.04 and RHD*09.05. The purpose of this study was to estimate the presence of these RHD genotypes in the Tunisian population. Materials and Methods Ethylenediaminetetraacetate blood samples from 907 D+ and 93 D− blood donors were tested for markers 602G and 667G by allele-specific primer-polymerase chain reaction (PCR-ASP). Samples with positive reactions were re-evaluated by DNA sequencing for RHD and RHCE exons 1-10 and adjacent intronic sequences. Results Among 907 D+ samples, 19 individuals were identified to harbour the RHD*weak partial 4.0 allele. RHCE sequencing post-haplotype-specific extraction ( HSE) revealed an altered RHCE*ce( 48C, 105T, 733G, 744C, 1025T) in those samples. The linkage of the RHCE polymorphisms to one haplotype was proven by DNA sequencing post- HSE. Conclusion The RHD*weak partial 4.0 allele syn. RHD*09.03 was estimated to occur 1 in 47 among D+ Tunisians. There was no evidence for other RHD alleles included in the weak D type 4 cluster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the mining industry, reconciliation can be defined as the practice of comparing the tonnage and average grade of ore predicted by the geological model with the tonnage and grade generated by the processing or metallurgical plant. This practice has shown an increasing importance, since, when correctly executed, it increases short-term planning reliability and substantially reduces losses in the operation. However, the usefulness of reconciliation relies on the quality and reliability of the input data. Successful reconciliation can be illusory. In many cases, errors at one point of the process are offset by errors at other points, resulting in excellent reconciliation results. However, this fact can hide compensating errors in the system that may su-fa ce someday. Very often sampling errors can be masked and may lead to erroneous analysis of the reconciliation system, generating serious consequences to the operation, especially when mining reaches poorer or more heterogeneous areas of the deposit. Since good estimation is only possible with correct sampling practices, the reliability in the reconciliation results depends on the representativeness of the samples that generated them. This work analyzes the sampling practices carried out at Maracá Mine for reconciliatioit purposes. Results show that the apparently good reconciliation between the mine and the plant is in fact illusory, consequence of the compensation of many sampling errors generated by the collection of the primary samples at the mine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Samples of clinoptilolite modified with manganese(II) chloride (MnCl2/N-CLI) have been obtained by incipient wetness impregnation method with subsequent drying at 110 °C until constant weight. Natural clinoptilolite and MnCl2/N-CLI samples have been characterized by X-ray method and tested in the reaction of low-temperature ozone decomposition. Dependent on occupancy of clinoptilolite surface by manganese(II) chloride, manganese (II) complexes with various composition and activity are formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bernoulli cumulative sum (CUSUM) chart has been shown to be effective for monitoring the rate of nonconforming items in high-quality processes where the in-control proportion of nonconforming items ( p0) is low. The implementation of the Bernoulli CUSUM chart is often based on the assumption that the in-control value p0 is known; therefore, when p0 is unknown, accurate estimation is necessary. We recommend using a Bayes estimator to estimate the value of p0 to incorporate practitioner knowledge and to avoid estimation issues when no nonconforming items are observed in phase I. We also investigate the effects of parameter estimation in phase I on the upper-sided Bernoulli CUSUM chart by using the expected value of the average number of observations to signal (ANOS) and the standard deviation of the ANOS. It is found that the effects of parameter estimation on the Bernoulli CUSUM chart are more significant than those on the Shewhart-type geometric chart. The low p0 values inherent to high-quality processes imply that a very large, and often unrealistic, sample size may be needed to accurately estimate p0. A methodology to identify a continuous variable to monitor is highly recommended when the value of p0 is low and the required phase I sample size is impractically large. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Total 170 samples of chillies (chilli sauce, crushed chilli and powdered chilli) were analyzed by HPLC coupled with fluorescence detector. AFs were detected in 39, 59 and 56% of chilli sauce, crushed chilli and chilli powder samples from open market compared with 29, 54 and 58% samples respectively, from food restaurants. OTA was found 5 (19%), 11 (38%) and 13 (38%), in chilli sauce, crushed chilli and chilli powder from open market compared to 4 (17%), 14 (50%), and 12 (41%) samples respectively, from food restaurants. About 12, 27 and 35% chilli sauce, crushed chilli and powdered chilli samples from open market were found above the European Union (EU) limit for total AFs compared to 8, 32, and 41% samples from food restaurants. The daily intakes of AFs and OTA were 3.3 and 2 μg/kg, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This work describes a quantitative multiplex real-time PCR method optimized for the detection of maize MON810 and GA21. The use of specific primers and of labeled probes by real-time PCR allowed for the simultaneous detection and confirmation of amplicon identity and increased the reliability of the technique and the number of PCR applications to food analysis. Two different endogenous genes, Zein and Adh1, were evaluated for quantitative use as accountable for continuous development of maize traits. The quantification is based on a calibration standard curve obtained with the DNA extracted from Certified Reference Materials (CRMs). The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of the triplex assays developed was set at 3 and 36 copy numbers respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Samples with different storage times were collected from supermarket shelves for three products: a strawberry fruit drink ( SFD), digestive biscuits and shortbread. Sensory descriptive analysis and chemical measurements were performed on the samples. Consumers measured sensory acceptability and answered an accept/reject question for each sample. These last data were used to estimate the sensory shelf life of the SFD applying survival analysis methodology. For the digestive biscuits and shortbread, this estimation was not possible because of the low rejection probability and that acceptability differences between samples did not follow the expected trend in relation to dates. Partial least squares regressions showed the relationships between acceptability ( Y-matrix) and trained panel descriptive analysis + chemical measurements ( X-matrix). Collecting samples from the shelf could be a means of obtaining cut-off points for shelf-life estimations. However, in two of the three examples presented, confidence intervals were wide. This was due to the relatively low number of experimental points in the regression and/or the batch variability inherent in the sample collection method. Overall, collecting samples from the shelf contributed limited information to shelf-life knowledge. Practical Applications If samples with different storage times could be collected from the company's deposits and/or from supermarket shelves, this would mean an important saving in resources, especially as this would mean not having to wait for the different storage times to elapse. The title of this article proposed answering the question of whether collecting samples from the shelf contributes to shelf-life knowledge. The answer is that it does, although with limitations. Depending on the product, it can provide sensory shelf-life estimations or establish if current 'best-before' dates are adequate. Correlations between acceptability and objective sensory or instrumental data can help in understanding modes of deterioration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to quickly detect changes in our surroundings has been crucial to human adaption and survival. In everyday life we often need to identify whether an object is new and if an object has changed its location. In the current event-related potential (ERP) study we investigated the electrophysiological correlates and the time course in detecting different types of changes of an object`s location and identity. In a delayed match-to-sample task participants had to indicate whether two consecutive scenes containing a road, a house, and two objects, were either the same or different. In six randomly intermixed conditions the second scene was identical, one of the objects had changed its identity, one of the objects had changed its location, or the objects had switched locations. The results reveal different time courses for the processing of identity and location changes in spatial scenes. Whereas location changes elicited a posterior N2 effect, indicating early mismatch detection, followed by a P3 effect reflecting post-perceptual processing, identity changes elicited an anterior N3 effect, which was delayed and functionally distinct from the N2 effect found for the location changes. The condition in which two objects switched position elicited a late ERP effect, reflected by a P3 effect similar to that obtained for the location changes. In sum, this study is the first to cohesively show different time courses for the processing of location changes, identity changes, and object switches in spatial scenes, which manifest themselves in different electrophysiological correlates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We explore empirically the relevance of positional concerns in France. Unlike previous literature, we use two types of surveys, one addressed to a convenience sample, and the other to a random sample of French households living in the metropolitan area of Montpellier. Surveys are composed of a set of hypothetical questions related to several domains (income, education, vacation time, etc.). We also investigate whether individuals consider themselves more or less positional than others in society. Moreover, a set of variables that could potentially explain why people give positional answers is considered, such as being positional on a domain in which the individual excels. In addition to more conventional findings, we show that (i) the percentage of positional answers for each domain is about the same in the random and convenience samples, (ii) people consider others as more positional than themselves, and (iii) excelling in a given domain is not necessarily a good predictor of positional preferences in this domain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article focuses on the increasing trend of publishing English-language fiction in India. It states that even though only two percent in India could write and read English and 42% of book buyers are habitual reader, the book publishing is expected to grow because of increasing book trade. It mentions that publishers and authors use unique selling strategies which include giving free samples, use of social media, and online bookshops.

Abstract: We develop quality control charts for attributes using the maxima nomination sampling (MNS) method and compare them with the usual control charts based on simple random sampling (SRS) method, using average run length (ARL) performance, the required sample size in detecting quality improvement, and non-existence region for control limits. We study the effect of the sample size, the set size, and nonconformity proportion on the performance of MNS control charts using ARL curve. We show that MNS control chart can be used as a better benchmark for indicating quality improvement or quality deterioration relative to its SRS counterpart. We consider MNS charts from a cost perspective. We also develop MNS attribute control charts using randomized tests. A computer program is designed to determine the optimal control limits for an MNS p-chart such that, assuming known parameter values, the absolute deviation between the ARL and a specific nominal value is minimized. We provide good approximations for the optimal MNS control limits using regression analysis. Theoretical results are augmented with numerical evaluations. These show that MNS based control charts can yield substantial improvement over the usual control charts based on SRS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Inaction inertia describes the phenomenon that an individual is unlikely to act on an attractive opportunity after having bypassed an even more attractive one. The results of two experiments indicate that after missing an initial opportunity to obtain a product as a free gift during a promotional period, the inaction inertia effect reduces the likelihood of consumers buying the product at a discounted price (second, inferior opportunity), particularly if the free gift has a high regular price. Additionally, according to the results of Experiment 2, those consumers are less likely to buy a product that has been offered previously as a free gift when a greater total quantity of the free gift is offered during a promotional period. Moreover, the mediation analysis results indicate that anticipated regret and valuation significantly impact the mediating role of inaction inertia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, we have measured thermal-conductivity of industrial thin film TiAlN with a thickness of around 3 μm. These films are used in machining industry for cutting tools in order to increase their service life. A series of TiAlN coating with a different Al/Ti atomic ratio were deposited on Fe-304 stainless steel (AISI304) substrate by a lateral rotating cathode arc process. The samples were then coated with a 0.8 μm gold layer on top by magnetron sputtering. We present the thermal-conductivity measurement of these samples using pulsed photothermal reflectance (PPR) technique at room temperature. The thermal conductivity of the pure TiN coating is about 11.9 W/mK. A significant decrease in thermal conductivity was found with increasing Al/Ti atomic ratio. A minimum thermal conductivity of about 4.63 W/mK was obtained at the Al/Ti atomic ratio of around 0.72. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified numerous loci associated with complex traits, imprecise modeling of the genetic relatedness within study samples may cause substantial inflation of test statistics and possibly spurious associations. Variance component approaches, such as efficient mixed-model association (EMMA), can correct for a wide range of sample structures by explicitly accounting for pairwise relatedness between individuals, using high-density markers to model the phenotype distribution; but such approaches are computationally impractical. We report here a variance component approach implemented in publicly available software, EMMA eXpedited (EMMAX), that reduces the computational time for analyzing large GWAS data sets from years to hours. We apply this method to two human GWAS data sets, performing association analysis for ten quantitative traits from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort and seven common diseases from the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium. We find that EMMAX outperforms both principal component analysis and genomic control in correcting for sample structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the 1860s and 70s, the India Office in London produced over 30,000 hand-cut and mounted samples of Indian textiles in a series of albums for circulation to chambers of commerce and design schools in Britain and India. Described by their creator John Forbes Watson as "trade museums," these albums were intended to educate manufacturers about the Indian market. In this paper, we consider the relationship between the collection and circulation of textiles--not only in the form of specimen fabrics, but also as abstracted patterns or as elements in theatrical performances. The circulation of knowledge in these various forms raises wider questions about the relationships between text, textiles, and Victorian cultures of display. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An essay is presented on the implications of free prescription drug samples in the U.S. It cites that a senior vice president of country's largest and leading drug companies free drug samples claimed that free drug samples can enhance patient care. However, the author notes that low-income patients who are given these samples might not be able to afford the cost of the extension to fill the remaining period of treatment which may lead to discontinuity of treatment.

OBJECTIVES. Free drug samples frequently are given to children. We sought to describe characteristics of free sample recipients, to determine whether samples are given primarily to poor and uninsured children, and to examine potential safety issues. METHODS. We analyzed data on 10295 US residents <18 years of age from the 2004 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a nationally representative survey that includes questions on receipt of free drug samples. We performed bivariate and multivariate analyses to evaluate characteristics associated with receipt of ≥1 free drug sample in 2004. We identified the most frequently reported sample medications and reviewed potential safety issues. RESULTS. Ten percent of children who received prescription medications and 4.9% of all children received ≥1 free drug sample in 2004. In bivariate analyses, poor children (family incomes of <200% of the federal poverty level) were no more likely to receive free samples than were those with incomes of ≥400% of the poverty level (3.8% vs 5.9%). Children who were uninsured for part or all of the year were no more likely to receive free samples than were those who were insured all year (4.5% vs 5.1%); 84.3% of all sample recipients were insured. In multivariate analyses, routine access to health care (≥3 provider visits in 2004) was associated with free sample receipt. The 15 most frequently distributed pediatric free samples in 2004 included 2 schedule II controlled medications, Strattera (atomoxetine) and Adderall (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine), and 4 medications that received new or revised black box warnings between 2004 and 2007, Elidel (pimecrolimus), Advair (fluticasone/salmeterol), Strattera (atomoxetine), and Adderall (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine). CONCLUSIONS. Poor and uninsured children are not the main recipients of free drug samples. Free samples do not target the neediest children selectively, and they have significant safety considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article attempts to determine whether drug samples are associated with physicians prescribing fewer generic, less costly medications in the United States. It shows that physicians are three times more likely to prescribe generic medications to uninsured patients after drug samples were removed from the office.

Objective: To examine readability and formatting characteristics of consumer medication information (CMI) accompanying prescription medication samples. Methods: We collected the most commonly used prescription medication samples (n =100) from four out-patient clinics at a large teaching hospital in the Southeastern US. Seventeen percent of samples were not pills/tablets and of such diverse nature (e.g., injections, drops, and creams) that there were not enough in any category to draw conclusions. Therefore, our analyses were limited to 83pill/tablet samples, belonging to 11 drug classes (e.g., cardiovascular, and psychiatric). We noted if CMI was present, and if so we assessed it for how instructions were presented, reading level, text size, format/layout, and comprehensibility. Results: No CMI was present in 39 (46.9%) samples. In 19 (22.9%), CMI was contained in a package insert and in 25 (30.2%) it was printed on the medication package. Average reading difficulty of CMI was at the 10th grade level (range=6–15) using the Fry formula, and text point size was small (mean 9.9±2.2 on package inserts and 9.4±2.6 when printed on packages). Conclusions: Almost half of samples did not include any type of CMI. For those that had CMI, it was often written at a reading difficulty level higher than the average reading skills of American adults, and the format of most CMI was not optimal for comprehensibility. It is likely that many patients do not understand the instructions accompanying medication samples they receive from clinicians. Practice implications: Clinicians should be cognizant of the shortcomings of CMI accompanying medication samples and thereby, distribute them to patients with caution. Manufacturers too should consider revising CMI to comply with low-literacy guidelines. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives. Free prescription drug samples are used widely in the United States. We sought to examine characteristics of free drug sample recipients nationwide. Methods. We analyzed data on 32681 US residents from the 2003 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), a nationally representative survey. Results. In 2003,12% of Americans received at least 1 free sample. A higher proportion of persons who had continuous health insurance received a free sample (12.9%) than did persons who were uninsured for part or all of the year (9.9%; P<.001). The poorest third of respondents were less likely to receive free samples than were those with incomes at 400% of the federal poverty level or higher. After we controlled for demographic factors, we found that neither insurance status nor income were predictors of the receipt of drug samples. Persons who were uninsured all or part of the year were no more likely to receive free samples (odds ratio [OR] = 0.98; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.087, 1.11) than those who were continuously insured. Conclusions. Poor and uninsured Americans are less likely than wealthy or insured Americans to receive free drug samples. Our findings suggest that free drug samples serve as a marketing tool, not as a safety net. (Am J Public Health. 2008;98:284-289. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2007.114249) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-volume instrumental photon activation analysis (IPAA) was used for the investigation of shredded electronic waste material. Sample masses from 1 to 150 grams were analyzed to obtain an estimate of the minimum sample size to be taken to achieve a representativeness of the results which is satisfactory for a defined investigation task. Furthermore, the influence of irradiation and measurement parameters upon the quality of the analytical results were studied. Finally, the analytical data obtained from IPAA and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), both carried out in a large-volume mode, were compared. Only parts of the values were found in satisfactory agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the opinions and practice patterns of obstetrician-gynecologists on acceptance and use of free drug samples and other incentive items from pharmaceutical representatives. Methods: A questionnaire was mailed in March 2003 to 397 members of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists who participate in the Collaborative Ambulatory Research Network. Results: The response rate was 55%. Most respondents thought it proper to accept drug samples (92%), an informational lunch (77%), an anatomical model (75%) or a well-paid consultantship (53%) from pharmaceutical representatives. A third (33%) of the respondents thought that their own decision to prescribe a drug would probably be influenced by accepting drug samples. Respondents were more likely to think the average doctor's prescribing would be influenced by acceptance of the items than theirs would be (p<0.002). Respondents who distributed drug samples to patients indicated doing so because of patients' financial need (94%) and for their convenience (76%) and less so as a result of knowledge of the efficacy of the sample product (63%). A third (34%) of respondents agreed that interactions with industry should be more strictly regulated. Conclusion: Obstetrician-gynecologists largely indicated that they would act in accordance with what they think is proper regarding accepting incentive items from pharmaceutical representatives. Although accepting free drug samples was considered to be appropriate more often than any other item, samples were most commonly judged to be influential on prescribing practices. The widely accepted practice of receiving and distributing free drug samples needs to be examined more carefully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need to obtain a representative sample deserves particular consideration since a wrong sampling plan can greatly affect the reliability of the measured levels of mycotoxins. This can even result in legal disputes and barriers to trade. Reported here is an holistic view for an ideal sampling plan, which is based on two consecutive steps: (i) To establish ‘why, where and when’ sampling has to be performed by assessing the purpose, the appropriate time and the site for collecting the samples; (ii) To establish ‘how’ to draw samples by assessing practical ad hoc guidelines, considering that, for bulk goods in particular, mycotoxins are not at all homogeneously distributed in a lot. So far, step 1 is not yet covered by specific guidelines while for step 2, European regulations establish the procedures for the sampling of bulk and retail products potentially contaminated by mycotoxins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]