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Level Values (level + value)
Selected AbstractsDiscovering Maximal Generalized Decision Rules Through Horizontal and Vertical Data ReductionCOMPUTATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, Issue 4 2001Xiaohua Hu We present a method to learn maximal generalized decision rules from databases by integrating discretization, generalization and rough set feature selection. Our method reduces the data horizontally and vertically. In the first phase, discretization and generalization are integrated and the numeric attributes are discretized into a few intervals. The primitive values of symbolic attributes are replaced by high level concepts and some obvious superfluous or irrelevant symbolic attributes are also eliminated. Horizontal reduction is accomplished by merging identical tuples after the substitution of an attribute value by its higher level value in a pre-defined concept hierarchy for symbolic attributes, or the discretization of continuous (or numeric) attributes. This phase greatly decreases the number of tuples in the database. In the second phase, a novel context-sensitive feature merit measure is used to rank the features, a subset of relevant attributes is chosen based on rough set theory and the merit values of the features. A reduced table is obtained by removing those attributes which are not in the relevant attributes subset and the data set is further reduced vertically without destroying the interdependence relationships between classes and the attributes. Then rough set-based value reduction is further performed on the reduced table and all redundant condition values are dropped. Finally, tuples in the reduced table are transformed into a set of maximal generalized decision rules. The experimental results on UCI data sets and a real market database demonstrate that our method can dramatically reduce the feature space and improve learning accuracy. [source] Field-amplified sample injection-micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography for the analysis of bisphenol A, bisphenol F, and their diglycidyl ethers and derivatives in canned soft drinksELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 9 2010Héctor Gallart-Ayala Abstract Conditions were established for the separation and analysis of bisphenol A, bisphenol F, and their diglycidyl ethers by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC). Good resolution was obtained for all compounds, although in order to achieve the separation of ortho,ortho, ortho,para, and para,para isomers of bisphenol F diglycidyl ether (BFDGE), BFDGE·2H2O and BFDGE·2HCl, it was necessary to use a 25,,m id fused silica capillary. To increase sensitivity, a field-amplified sample injection (FASI)-MECC method was developed using 10,mM SDS solution as injection matrix and a 75,,m id fused silica capillary. Instrumental quality parameters such as LODs (<55,,g/L with standards), linearity (r2>0.999), and run-to-run and day-to-day precisions (RSD values lower than 12.5%) were determined. Finally, the suitability of the FASI-MECC method for the analysis of bisphenol A, bisphenol F, and their diglycidyl ethers in canned soft drinks was evaluated. Quantitation was performed by matrix-matched calibration using a plastic-bottled isotonic drink as matrix. The results showed that FASI-MECC is an economic method for the screening and quantitation of these kinds of compounds in soft drink beverages, with no loss of reproducibility, and effective at concentrations lower than the specific migration level values established by the European Union. [source] Extreme value predictions based on nonstationary time series of wave dataENVIRONMETRICS, Issue 1 2006Christos N. Stefanakos Abstract A new method for calculating return periods of various level values from nonstationary time series data is presented. The key idea of the method is a new definition of the return period, based on the MEan Number of Upcrossings of the level x* (MENU method). In the present article, the case of Gaussian periodically correlated time series is studied in detail. The whole procedure is numerically implemented and applied to synthetic wave data in order to test the stability of the method. Results obtained by using several variants of traditional methods (Gumbel's approach and the POT method) are also presented for comparison purposes. The results of the MENU method showed an extraordinary stability, in contrast to the wide variability of the traditional methods. The predictions obtained by means of the MENU method are lower than the traditional predictions. This is in accordance with the results of other methods that also take into account the dependence structure of the examined time series. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Feeding habits and trophic morphology of inshore lizardfish (Synodus foetens) on the central continental shelf off Veracruz, Gulf of MexicoJOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 6 2005V. H. Cruz-Escalona Summary The inshore lizardfish, Synodus foetens, is one of the most common coastal demersal predators on the continental shelf of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), but the biology and feeding ecology of this species is virtually unknown. Between November 2001 and January 2003 (10 collections), 603 individuals of S. foetens ranging from 112 to 420 mm standard length (SL) and 13 to 630 g (wet weight) were collected from the continental shelf of Alvarado, Veracruz, Mexico. About 60% of the individuals had empty stomachs with the stomach fullness of the remaining individuals being distributed as follows: 5% full (24.8%), 50,75% full (13.5%), and completely full (1.7%). The mean (± SD) wet weight of stomach contents was 12.1 ± 10.8 g during the rainy season, and 19.0 ± 13.0 g during the nortes season. Seventeen prey items were identified, with the majority thereof being fish. The most important prey items were Upeneus parvus, Loligo pealei, Engyophrys senta, Trachurus lathami, and Anchoa hepsetus. Seasonal changes in the diet were observed, with U. parvus and L. pealei being the most important prey during the nortes season, whereas E. senta and L. pealei were the main items during the rainy season. Prey size selection was evident among size classes of S. foetens, although no trophic overlap was observed among size classes (Cik , 0.004). High trophic level values were determined for all size classes by season (rainy season = 4.67, nortes season = 4.84), and indicated this species belongs to the piscivorous trophic guild that preys upon both demersal and pelagic species. [source] Comparison of nutrient intake between different dietary assessment methods in elderly male volunteersNUTRITION & DIETETICS, Issue 4 2008Gunnar JOHANSSON Abstract Aim:, The objective of the study was to compare nutritional intake results obtained from the 4 × 4-day weighed records with those obtained from a food frequency questionnaire, repeated 24-hour recalls, a seven-day food record and a seven-day checklist in elderly men. Methods:, Seventy-five healthy men aged 55,88 years and living at home in Cambridge, UK, took part in the study. Energy and nutrients had means and standard deviations calculated. Misreporting was based on an evaluation of food intake level, calculated as reported energy intake divided by predicted basal metabolic rate. This was in relation to a plausible physical activity level, calculated as the ratio of energy expenditure divided by predicted basal metabolic rate. Statistical significance was assessed via one-way anova. Results:, The nutrient density was higher for protein and potassium for the group with low food intake level values in all dietary assessment methods. For some methods, this was also true for calcium, carotene, iron and vitamin C. All methods yielded similar results. Conclusions:, The present study indicates that selective underreporting exists. Surprisingly, the simplest method, the simplified 24-hour recall, performed as well as more complicated methods. [source] On the mechanisms that limit oxygen uptake during exercise in acute and chronic hypoxia: role of muscle massTHE JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 2 2009José A. L. Calbet Peak aerobic power in humans () is markedly affected by inspired O2 tension (). The question to be answered in this study is what factor plays a major role in the limitation of muscle peak in hypoxia: arterial O2 partial pressure () or O2 content ()? Thus, cardiac output (dye dilution with Cardio-green), leg blood flow (thermodilution), intra-arterial blood pressure and femoral arterial-to-venous differences in blood gases were determined in nine lowlanders studied during incremental exercise using a large (two-legged cycle ergometer exercise: Bike) and a small (one-legged knee extension exercise: Knee) muscle mass in normoxia, acute hypoxia (AH) () and after 9 weeks of residence at 5260 m (CH). Reducing the size of the active muscle mass blunted by 62% the effect of hypoxia on in AH and abolished completely the effect of hypoxia on after altitude acclimatization. Acclimatization improved Bike peak exercise from 34 ± 1 in AH to 45 ± 1 mmHg in CH (P < 0.05) and Knee from 38 ± 1 to 55 ± 2 mmHg (P < 0.05). Peak cardiac output and leg blood flow were reduced in hypoxia only during Bike. Acute hypoxia resulted in reduction of systemic O2 delivery (46 and 21%) and leg O2 delivery (47 and 26%) during Bike and Knee, respectively, almost matching the corresponding reduction in . Altitude acclimatization restored fully peak systemic and leg O2 delivery in CH (2.69 ± 0.27 and 1.28 ± 0.11 l min,1, respectively) to sea level values (2.65 ± 0.15 and 1.16 ± 0.11 l min,1, respectively) during Knee, but not during Bike. During Knee in CH, leg oxygen delivery was similar to normoxia and, therefore, also in spite of a of 55 mmHg. Reducing the size of the active muscle mass improves pulmonary gas exchange during hypoxic exercise, attenuates the Bohr effect on oxygen uploading at the lungs and preserves sea level convective O2 transport to the active muscles. Thus, the altitude-acclimatized human has potentially a similar exercising capacity as at sea level when the exercise model allows for an adequate oxygen delivery (blood flow ×), with only a minor role of per se, when is more than 55 mmHg. [source] | ||||||||||