Extreme Value Distribution in Hydrology

The problems encountered when empirical fit is used as the sole criterion for choosing a distribution to represent annual flood data are discussed. Some theoretical direction is needed for this choice. Extreme value theory is established as a viable tool for analyzing annual flood data. Extreme value distributions have been used in previous analyses of flood data. However, no systematic investigation of the theory has previously been applied. Properties of the extreme value distributions are examined. The most appropriate distribution for flood data has not previously been fit to such data. The fit of the chosen extreme value distribution compares favorably with that of the Pearson and log Pearson Type III distributions

Study on the scope for reconstruction of the grazing livestock sector of Xinjiang based on organic farming methods

This paper explores the feasibility of developing organic livestock farming in the pastoral area of Xinjiang, in order to address the problems of grassland degradation and to promote the sustainable development of the grazing livestock sector. Research shows that organic grazing farming may reduce the stocking rate of grassland and relieve the strained relationship between animal and grassland, as well between man and nature. As a result, the value of multifunctional grazing systems may be more widely recognized. As well as including production and economic objectives, cultural, social and environmental implications will also be taken into account. Additionally, herders may also have an improved source of income to poor rural people. The potential markets for organic products are very big and the traditional ruminant livestock husbandry systems in Xinjiang are very close to organic livestock farming. It is considered necessary to change from a production-oriented approach to farming system research to a wider consideration of the systems and policies needed to support the development of organic grazing livestock alongside consideration of how to fund the relevant research and training and establish the systems of quality guarantee associated with organic production.Grazing Livestock, Organic Farming, Xinjiang, China

The Statistical Development of an Index of Office Performance

ABSTRACT In many organizations, similar operations are carried out at different locations. This is certainly true of plant operations, and for many corporations, is also true for their business offices. For example, in the AT&T System, the everyday contact with customers is performed in approximately twenty-one hundred different business office locations. These offices all perform very similar work functions. Other organizations such as the utilities and various government agencies also have this characteristic in that many different office locations perform essentially the same work tasks. This situation leads to consideration of formal measurement schemes which can be used to compare the performance of these offices in an objective way. There are actually two types of important comparisons. The first is the comparison of an office with its own earlier performances. The second is the comparison of two different offices. The same index of office performance should not necessarily be used for both types of comparisons. This aspect of the measurement of office performance does not seem to have been discussed by earlier authors and we believe the procedures used to adjust indices for environmental differences are new. It is important to notice that these procedures do not involve expensive work sampling. The problem is discussed with specific emphasis on the statistical models used to develop both intra- and inter- office comparisons. The models described were developed for use in the AT&T System, however, they are described with emphasis on development rather than the implications of their use in the AT&T System

Paternal exposure to medical-related radiation associated with low birthweight infants: A large population-based, retrospective cohort study in rural China

Low birthweight (LBW) is closely associated with fetal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. We identified the risk factors of LBW and geographical differences in LBW incidence in 30 Chinese provinces in the present study.This study was a population-based, retrospective cohort study performed in 30 Chinese provinces. We used data from the free National Pre-pregnancy Checkups Project, which is a countrywide population-based retrospective cohort study. To identify regional differences in LBW incidence, we used the Qinling-Huaihe climate line to divide China into northern and southern sections and the Heihe-Tengchong economic line to divide it into eastern and western sections. Multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis with SAS 9.4 was used for data analysis. P \u3c .05 was considered statistically significant. LBW incidence was 4.54% in rural China. Southern China had a significantly higher incidence (4.65%) than northern China (4.28%). Our main risk factor for LBW is paternal exposure to radiation (odds ratio = 1.537), which has never been studied before.This study identifies multiple risk factors of couples giving birth to LBW babies including paternal risk factors

Business Disaster And Recovery Planning: An Illustrative Case Of A Corporate Accounts Payable Department

This paper presents a case that focuses on the Corporate Accounts Payable Department of a major corporation with the objective of reinforcing that organizations need business resumption plans for all units.  Textbooks tend to focus on the information technology area which may lead students to overlook the need for business resumption planning in other areas.  Students were asked to complete a set of case questions based on the case material. Comparisons of students’ responses to a questionnaire regarding business resumption planning showed that students who completed the case demonstrated a stronger understanding of the topic than those who did not

Both maternal and paternal risk factors for term singleton low birthweight infants in rural Chinese population: a population-based, retrospective cohort study

No large population-based study has focused on both maternal paternal risk factors for low birthweight (LBW) in China. We aimed to identify parental risk factors associated with LBW. A population-based, retrospective cohort study was conducted on 202,725 singleton infants at 37-42 weeks. These term singleton newborns were classified as LBW with birthweight \u3c /=2500 g(TLBW) and normal birthweight between 50(th) to 97(th) percentile (TNBW 50(th)-97(th)) according to Chinese singleton norms. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to find those parental risk factors of LBW by comparing two groups. TLBW and TNBW(50(th)-97(th)) occupied 4.8% and 70.8% of the study population, respectively. Logistic regression showed a significant association with positive maternal hepatitis B surface antigen (RR = 1.979, P = 0.047), irregular folic acid intake (RR = 1.152, P = 0.003), paternal history of varicocele (RR = 2.404, P = 0.003) and female babies (RR = 1.072, P = 0.046). Maternal smoking, hypertension and history of stillbirth were found related to LBW but no statistically significant. Positive maternal hepatitis B surface antigen, irregular folic acid intake, paternal history of varicocele had a negative effect on birth weight. Measures are necessarily taken to avoid them to improve pregnancy outcomes. Further studies should be done to investigate each detailed risk factors on LBW