A comparison of the efficiency of techniques for digital encoding of contour maps

There are two digitizing techniques which are operable without human interpretation of contour-mapped data and which thus may be performed semi-automatically; line following and raster scanning. After a comparison of these techniques the author concentrates on raster scanning, as this technique facilitates creation of matrix data, the data structure most widely used in spatial analysis performed by digital computers. The author proposes the quantization method of computing matrix data and shows that quantized data may be used not only for overall computations but also to determine geometrical properties of surfaces - giving the possibility of error estimation-shown by the contour map. In particular such an approach enables pre-determination of a scanning parameter track spacing before digitizing to satisfy the required accuracy of analysis. The different aspects of utilising data obtained by raster scanning are discussed; storage, display in contour map form - the algorithm to produce the type of map where the contour lines pass exactly through the sample points taken during scanning is included

Right drug, right patient, right time: aspiration or future promise for biologics in rheumatoid arthritis?

Individualising biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) to maximise outcomes and deliver safe and cost-effective care is a key goal in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Investigation to identify predictive tools of bDMARD response is a highly active and prolific area of research. In addition to clinical phenotyping, cellular and molecular characterisation of synovial tissue and blood in patients with RA, using different technologies, can facilitate predictive testing. This narrative review will summarise the literature for the available bDMARD classes and focus on where progress has been made. We will also look ahead and consider the increasing use of ‘omics’ technologies, the potential they hold as well as the challenges, and what is needed in the future to fully realise our ambition of personalised bDMARD treatment

Marketing strategies high tech in Poland

Poland is a country where high technology investments are not yet common enough to be known internationally. In comparison with neighboring countries such as Germany, there are clear differences in the development of high technologies, especially in the field of biotechnology. In the Polish economy, the share of agriculture in relation to service activity still dominates, hence the expenditure on high tech investments is not as high and the number of R&D centers in the country is small. The article presents differences in the approach to marketing strategies and the development of high technologies resulting from these strategies. The aim of the article is to analyze marketing strategies in Poland using secondary data. Biotechnological units located in the country and specific agglomerations of the high technology market were examined.Polska jest regionem, w którym inwestycje dotyczące wysokich technologii nie są jeszcze na tyle powszechne, by mogła być z tego znana na arenie międzynarodowej. W porównaniu z krajem sąsiadującym, takim jak Niemcy dostrzega się wyraźne różnice w rozwoju wysokich technologii zwłaszcza w zakresie biotechnologii. W polskiej gospodarce nadal dominuje udział rolnictwa wobec działalności usługowej stąd nakład na inwestycje high tech nie jest tak wysoki, a liczba ośrodków B+R w kraju jest niewielka. W artykule zaprezentowano różnice w podejściu do strategii marketingowych oraz rozwoju wysokich technologii wynikającego z tych strategii. Celem artykułu jest analiza strategii marketin-gowych w Polsce z wykorzystaniem danych wtórnych. Badaniu poddano jednostki biotechnologiczne znajdujące się w kraju oraz szczególne skupiska rynku wysokich technologii