Semi-Quantitative Comparative Analysis And Its Application

SQCA is an implemented technique for the semi-quantitative comparative analysis of dynamical systems. It is both able to deal with incompletely specified models and make precise predictions by exploiting semi-quantitative information in the form of numerical bounds on the variables and functions occuring in the models. The technique has a solid mathematical foundation which facilitates proofs of correctness and convergence properties. SQCA represents the core of a method for the automated prediction of experimental results

Semi-quantitative comparative analysis

Comparative analysis (CA) of dynamical systems is an important problem in qualitative reasoning. CA techniques predict differences in the behavior of two systems as a consequence of differences in the initial conditions or structural differences. A disadvantage of these techniques is the imprecision of the possible answers due to their qualitative nature. This report presents SQCA, an implemented technique for the semi-quantitative comparative analysis of dynamical systems. SQCA is both able to deal with incompletely specified models and make precise predictions by exploiting numerical information in the formof interval bounds on variable values and envelope functions around monotonic relations. The technique has a solid mathematical foundation which facilitates proofs of correctness and convergence properties

An analysis of an industry sponsored governance development intervention : the case of Dairy NZ's Mark and Measure programme : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Studies in Management at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Appendices 6 & 7 removed due to copyright reasonsA plethora of ‘good’ corporate governance prescriptions are ascribed to boards. Yet there is little research on the influence of corporate governance prescriptions on businesses. This research aims to investigate the impact of the DairyNZ Mark and Measure Farm Business Governance Programme (the Mark and Measure course). This research uses Kirkpatrick’s (1958) Four Level Model to evaluate the Mark and Measure course. The author employs an embedded case study with a sequential mixed methods design to examine the Mark and Measure course. The sequential mixed methods design included a document analysis, a quantitative comparative pre and post intervention analysis, and five qualitative semi-structured interviews. The participants in the research were made up of closely-held SME’s and family businesses. The results show inconsistencies in the conceptualisation of corporate governance in academia, the Mark and Measure course, and the responses of the interviewed participants. There was an increase in most of the four levels in Kirkpatrick’s model. However, caution needs to be applied to results as there are methodological issues with the employed survey instrument

Semi-supervised LC/MS alignment for differential proteomics

Motivation: Mass spectrometry (MS) combined with high-performance liquid chromatography (LC) has received considerable attention for high-throughput analysis of proteomes. Isotopic labeling techniques such as ICAT [5,6] have been successfully applied to derive differential quantitative information for two protein samples, however at the price of significantly increased complexity of the experimental setup. To overcome these limitations, we consider a label-free setting where correspondences between elements of two samples have to be established prior to the comparative analysis. The alignment between samples is achieved by nonlinear robust ridge regression. The correspondence estimates are guided in a semi-supervised fashion by prior information which is derived from sequenced tandem mass spectra. Results: The semi-supervised method for finding correspondences was successfully applied to aligning highly complex protein samples, even if they exhibit large variations due to different biological conditions. A large-scale experiment clearly demonstrates that the proposed method bridges the gap between statistical data analysis and label-free quantitative differential proteomics. Availability: The software will be available on the website Contact: [email protected]

Qualitative data in demography

Qualitative methods and insights from other disciplines are increasingly integrated into demography’s traditionally quantitative toolkit. Whereas this is not problematic for multi-disciplinary research projects difficulties may arise when quantitatively trained demographers diversify to use less familiar data collection tools. We review the scale of this recent trend and the choice of qualitative methods typically employed by demographic researchers. Using insights from a comparative qualitative study undertaken in Zimbabwe and Senegal, we discuss some problems inherent in qualitative data collection and analysis and propose ways in which such data should and should not be used. Focussing in particular on semi-structured in-depth interviews, we discuss issues of representativity, investigate respondents’ silence on specific topics, and the role of interviewer characteristics in influencing the interview subject matter.data collection, in-depth interviews, interviewers, qualitative data, research methods, Senegal, Zimbabwe

Content marketing model for leading web content management

This paper is envisaged to provide the Ukrainian businesses with suggestions for a content marketing model for the effective management of website content in order to ensure its leading position on the European and world markets. Our study employed qualitative data collection with semi-structured interviews, survey, observation methods, quantitative and qualitative methods of content analysis of regional B2B companies, as well as the comparative analysis. The following essential stages of the content marketing process as preliminary search and analysis, website content creation, promotion and distribution, and content marketing progress assessment were identified and classified in detail. The strategic decisions and activities at each stage of the process showed how a company’s on-site and off-site content can be used as a tool to establish the relationship between the brand and its target audience and increase brand visibility online. This study offered several useful insights into how website content, social media and various optimization techniques work together in engaging with the target audience and driving website traffic and sales leads. We constructed and described the content marketing model elaborated for effective web content management that can be useful for those companies that start to consider employing content marketing strategy for achieving business goals and increasing a leadership position

An exploration into the experiences of health visitors delivering listening visits to women as an intervention for mild to moderate postnatal depression or anxiety

This study explored the experiences of health visitors carrying out listening visits, an intervention used to support women suffering from mild to moderate depression and anxiety in the postnatal period. Methods Thirty three health visitors from one single trust were surveyed using an online questionnaire. Follow up interviews were also carried out. Quantitative data from the questionnaires was analysed using descriptive statistics, answers to semi-structured questions within the survey were analysed using content analysis. Interview recordings were transcribed verbatim and analysed using the constant comparative method

Fumonisin B1 Toxicity in Grower-Finisher Pigs: A Comparative Analysis of Genetically Engineered Bt Corn and non-Bt Corn by Using Quantitative Dietary Exposure Assessment Modeling

In this study, we investigate the long-term exposure (20 weeks) to fumonisin B1 (FB1) in grower-finisher pigs by conducting a quantitative exposure assessment (QEA). Our analytical approach involved both deterministic and semi-stochastic modeling for dietary comparative analyses of FB1 exposures originating from genetically engineered Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-corn, conventional non-Bt corn and distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) derived from Bt and/or non-Bt corn. Results from both deterministic and semi-stochastic demonstrated a distinct difference of FB1 toxicity in feed between Bt corn and non-Bt corn. Semi-stochastic results predicted the lowest FB1 exposure for Bt grain with a mean of 1.5 mg FB1/kg diet and the highest FB1 exposure for a diet consisting of non-Bt grain and non-Bt DDGS with a mean of 7.87 mg FB1/kg diet; the chronic toxicological incipient level of concern is 1.0 mg of FB1/kg of diet. Deterministic results closely mirrored but tended to slightly under predict the mean result for the semi-stochastic analysis. This novel comparative QEA model reveals that diet scenarios where the source of grain is derived from Bt corn presents less potential to induce FB1 toxicity than diets containing non-Bt corn