Coastal atmospheric temperature prediction in Greenland using support vector regression

In the recent years, global climate change has induced evergrowing loss of sea ice in the Arctic. As the sea ice disappears, albedo diminishes and the sea surface is more likely to be warmed by incoming solar radiation. With the right wind conditions, this extra heat may also be advected towards the shore and thus influence coastal atmospheric temperatures. Thus, knowing how coastal atmospheric temperature is related to offshore conditions is paramount to help predict inshore effects. To study this relation, an exploratory approach using machine learning algorithms is proposed. Based on a combination of daily in situ (i.e. wind velocity, sea level pressure) and remotely sensed (i.e. sea surface temperature, sea ice concentration) data, a series of predicting features are constructed for the years 1981-2010. Two implementations of support vector regression (SVR), one with a linear kernel and the other with a combination of gaussian and histogram intersection kernels are then applied. Results of the SVR indicate that prediction root mean squared errors of less than 5°C are routinely achievable. Prediction errors are also found to be the smallest in summer months and/or at lower latitudes. Finally, the relative importance (ranking) of features appears to be highly variable, depending both on the location and the period of the year

Hermeneutical Situation Creators in the Domain of Nationalism in the Cultural Policy Making of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Although nationalism is honored alongside the Islamic unity in the upstream documents of the government, in practice this concept has not been streamed in the next layers and has resulted in uncertainties and , therefore, has harassed cultural and public policy makers in this area, knowingly or unknowingly.Policymakers create a hermeneutic situation for themselves as a result of every stance they take, and their a posteriori understanding is under the impact of their a priori one. These are hermeneutic situation creators some of which have key roles in giving rise to a chain of hermeneutic situations in the domain of nationalism.In this research, by using the thematic analysis method, “conflict situations in the domain of nationalism, based on six sources including upstream documentation, statements by Imam Khomeini and Supreme Leader of the Revolution, strategies and policies adopted by governments, comments by the authorities, elite and educators, models and patterns of public and cultural policy, and also 21 dilemmas of the Council of Europe are extracted , and also by using the ISM method the key hermeneutical situation creators are identified and explained. In the end, the most important hermeneutical challenges in the domain of nationalism based on hermeneutical situation creator relationships in the nationalism domain, have been analyzed

Evaluation of Platelet Indices and Complete Blood Count in Canine Mammary Tumors

Background: Malignant mammary tumors in humans and bitches cause hematological disorders such as anemia, erythrocytosis, thrombocytosis, hyperproteinemia, and leucopenia. Novel studies have been conducted on the predictive and prognostic values of platelet (PLT) indices in human breast cancer (HBC). However, there is little information about the alterations in hematological parameters in canine mammary tumors (CMTs). The aims of this study were to evaluate the platelet indices and complete blood count (CBC) parameters in bitches with and without mammary tumor and to assess the above mentioned parameters with regard to histological tumor types and grades.Materials, Methods & Results: A total of 71 bitches were enrolled in this study. The bitches in the study group were divided into 2 groups which consisted of malignant epithelial mammary tumors (group EMT; n = 43) and malignant mixed mammary tumors (group MMT; n = 12). Control group (group C) consisted of clinically and gynaecologically healthy 16 bitches. Blood samples were obtained to perform the CBC and PLT indices analysis. Histopathological examinations were carried out under a light microscope. Histological tumor types and malignancy grades were classified. The bitches with mammary tumor showed significantly increased PLT values and decreased hematocrit (HCT), hemoglobin (HGB) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) values versus the healthy ones, regardless of the tumor type. However, in comparisons with the group C, mean platelet volume (MPV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) values were different only in the group MMT, while plateletcrit (PCT) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) values were different only in the group EMT. Also white blood cell (WBC), PLT and PCT values were higher than the referenced laboratory ranges in grade 3 tumors. In the presented study, MPV was considerably correlated with PLT, platelet distribution width (PDW) and PCT. Also, PCT and PLT had high sensitivity and specificity to distinct EMT and MMT from the healthy bitches.Discussion: Microcytic and hypochromic anemia occurs due to the decrease in the amount of HGB. Levels of MCV, MCH, and MCHC in the HBC group were reported to be significantly lower than in humans without breast cancer. Although anemia did not occur in EMT and MMT groups, obtained significances in the HCT, HGB, MCV, MCH, and MCHC levels between the bitches with and without mammary tumor were in line with the previous reports. In this study, WBC levels in grade 3 tumors were significantly higher than grade1 tumors (P < 0.05). Whereas levels of WBC in grade 1 and grade 2 tumors were in referenced laboratory ranges, it was higher in grade 3. Increased level of WBC in grade 3 was supposed to be due to the rise in malignancy as previously reported. Thrombocytosis was detected in 48.83% and 41.66% of the bitches in EMT and MMT groups, respectively. The higher percentage of CMTs with thrombocytosis in this study might be due to the difference in referenced upper limit of PLT in previous studies. The elapsed time between tumor formation and clinical presentation could be another influencing factor. Although PLT and PCT values were not significant according to the histological grading in this study, both parameters were found to be higher in grade 3 than the normal reference values. Further studies conducted with higher populations may lead the differences in these parameters to significance. With the support of further studies, alterations in the above mentioned parameters in bitches may contribute in the diagnosis process, management of treatment and may constitute an easy way to have an idea about the prognosis of mammary tumors

Sütçü sığırlarda Q hummasının seropozitifliği ve eser elementler arasındaki i̇lişkinin araştırılması

Query fever (Q fever) which is caused by Coxiella burnetii is a continuing problem as a zoonotic disease in the world. In ruminants, infections are mostly asymptomatic however, abortions and stillbirths may occur during late pregnancy. Trace elements are important for the reproductive performance of ruminants and all have roles in immune function. However, serum trace element levels of Coxiella seropositive infertile and healthy dairy cows have not been investigated yet. The present was aimed to evaluate the trace element status of cattle associated with Coxiella burnetii. For this purpose, 200 dairy cattle with and without clinical problems (infertility, metritis and abortion) were compared. Q fever infection was confirmed with ELISA. Levels of trace elements of samples were analysed utilizing inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrophotometer. Serum levels of trace elements of the samples were expressed as μg/mL. In total, 20 of 200 sera were diagnosed to be positive by ELISA. Nine of 20 sera were positive from asymptomatic cattle. Seven of 11 sera were positive from cattle with infertility, while 4 of 11 sera were positive from cattle with abortion. No significant differences were found between trace element levels of ELISA seropositive cattle and asymptomatic seropositive cattle. In conclusion, although statistical analysis of serum trace elements is no significant, our findings clearly show that analysis of trace element levels in cattle may be useful predictors in early treatment and prognosis. Further studies are required to clarify the connection between Coxiella seropositivity, trace elements and clinical symptoms in cattle.Q humması, Coxiella burnetii tarafından oluşturulan ve tüm dünyada devam eden zoonoz bir hastalıktır. Ruminantlarda enfeksiyon genellikle asemptomatik seyretmekte, ancak gebeliğin geç döneminde abort ve ölü doğumlar görülebilmektedir. Eser elementler ruminantlarda üreme performansı ve immün fonksiyon üzerinde önemli rol oynar. Coxiella pozitif olan kısır ve sağlıklı süt ineklerinde serum eser element düzeyleri henüz araştırılmamıştır. Bu çalışmanın amacı; sığırlarda Coxiella burnetii ile ilişkili serum eser element düzeylerinin değerlendirilmesidir. Bu amaçla klinik olarak hasta olan (infertilite, metritis, abort) ve olmayan süt sığırları karşılaştırıldı. Q ateşi ELISA yöntemiyle teşhis edildi. Eser element seviyelerinin ölçümü, indüktif olarak eşleşmiş plazma-optik emisyon spektrofotometresi kullanılarak gerçekleştirildi. Serum örneklerinden elde edilen sonuçlar μg/mL cinsinden belirtildi. Toplamda 200 örnekten 20 serum ELISA ile pozitif olarak saptandı. Asemptomatik sığırlardan elde edilen 20 serumun 9’u pozitif olarak tespit edildi. Abort yapan sığırlardan elde edilen 11 serumdan 4’ü pozitifken, infertilitesi olan sığırların7’si pozitif olarak belirlendi. ELISA seropozitif ve asemptomatik seropozitif sığırların serum eser element düzeyleri arasında önemli bir farklılık görülmemiştir. Sonuç olarak; serum eser element seviyelerinde istatistiksel olarak önemli bir fark bulunmamasına rağmen çalışmamızda sığırlarda erken tedavi ve prognozun belirlenmesinde eser element analizlerinin kullanışlı bir yöntem olduğu görüldü. Sığırlarda Coxiella seropozitifliği, eser elementler ve klinik semptomlar arasındaki ilişkinin değerlendirilmesi amacıyla daha fazla çalışma yapılması gerektiği düşüncesindeyiz

A problem-structuring model for analyzing transportation–environment relationships

This is the post-print version of the final paper published in European Journal of Operational Research. The published article is available from the link below. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. Copyright @ 2009 Elsevier B.V.This study discusses a decision support framework that guides policy makers in their strategic transportation related decisions by using multi-methodology. For this purpose, a methodology for analyzing the effects of transportation policies on environment, society, economy, and energy is proposed. In the proposed methodology, a three-stage problem structuring model is developed. Initially, experts’ opinions are structured by using a cognitive map to determine the relationships between transportation and environmental concepts. Then a structural equation model (SEM) is constructed, based on the cognitive map, to quantify the relations among external transportation and environmental factors. Finally the results of the SEM model are used to evaluate the consequences of possible policies via scenario analysis. In this paper a pilot study that covers only one module of the whole framework, namely transportation–environment interaction module, is conducted to present the applicability and usefulness of the methodology. This pilot study also reveals the impacts of transportation policies on the environment. To achieve a sustainable transportation system, the extent of the relationships between transportation and the environment must be considered. The World Development Indicators developed by the World Bank are used for this purpose

Određivanje razine nekih esencijalnih (željezo, bakar, cink) i toksičnih (olovo, kadmij) metala u krvi ovaca te u uzorcima vode, biljaka i tla u sjeverozapadnoj Turskoj.

The aim of this investigation was to determine the levels of trace elements (zinc, iron, copper), as well as of lead and cadmium, in both the soil and in organism in order to obtain more efficient economical results and healthier sheep breeds in Northwest Turkey. Based on the results of these analyses, we plan to make suggestions to veterinarians and sheep breeders in that region on how to improve their performance. The study was carried out on 400 sheep from different sites in Northwest Turkey and included the collection of water (n = 5), plant (n = 5) and soil (n = 5) samples from every district. When serum parameters were examined an important decrease in iron levels was found in the 8th, 9th and 10th districts, while the lowest zinc levels were found in the 1st and 7th districts, the lowest copper levels in the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 6th districts, the highest lead levels in the 9th and 10th districts, and the highest cadmium levels in the 2nd, 5th and 6th districts. Analyses of water, plant and soil samples showed significant differences in zinc and copper levels between districts. High levels of lead were detected in water and plant samples. We are of the opinion that important improvements will be obtained in the treatment and control of diseases due to deficiency of trace elements and of parasitic, bacterial and viral diseases due to related systems affected by such deficiencies if these results are appropriately communicated to animal breeders and veterinary surgeons operating in the regions in question.Cilj istraživanja bio je odrediti razinu elemenata u tragovima (cink, željezo, bakar), te olova i kadmija u tlu i organizmu ovaca kako bi se polučili bolji gospodarski rezultati i uzgajale zdravije pasmine ovaca u sjeverozapadnoj Turskoj. Na temelju rezultata, za navedena područja planiraju se preporuke veterinarima i uzgajivačima na osnovi kojih bi se unaprijedio njihov rad. U istraživanje je bilo uključeno 400 ovaca iz različitih područja sjeverozapadne Turske. Uzimani su uzorci vode (n = 5), biljaka (n = 5) i tla (n = 5). Utvrđena je značajno niža razina željeza u 8., 9. i 10. području. Najniža razina cinka ustanovljena je u 1. i 7. području, najniža razina bakra u 1., 3., 5. i 6. području, dok su najviše razine olova utvrđene u 9. i 10. području, a kadmija u 2., 5. i 6. području. Analiza uzoraka vode, biljaka i tla pokazala je da između različitih područja postoje značajne razlike u razini cinka i bakra. Visoke razine olova ustanovljene su u uzorcima vode i biljaka. Prijenosom ovih rezultata do veterinara i uzgajivača iz promatranih područja, ostvarit će se značajna poboljšanja u liječenju i kontroli bolesti uzrokovanih deficijencijom elemenata u tragovima. Isto se može očekivati i za bolesti uzrokovane parazitima, bakterijama i virusima u kojih navedene deficijencije imaju određenu ulogu

Comparative efficiency analysis of Portuguese bank branches

The advent of Internet banking and phone banking is changing the role of bank branches from a predominantly transaction-based one to a sales-oriented role. This paper reports on an assessment of the branches of a Portuguese bank in terms of their performance in their new roles in three different areas: Their efficiency in fostering the use of new transaction channels, their efficiency in increasing sales and their customer base, and their efficiency in generating profits. Service quality is also a major issue in service organisations like bank branches, and therefore we analyse the way this dimension of performance has been accounted for in the literature and take it into account in our empirical application. We have used data envelopment analysis (DEA) for the different performance assessments, but we depart from traditional DEA models in some cases. Performance comparisons on each dimension allowed us to identify benchmark bank branches and also problematic bank branches. In addition, we found positive links between operational and profit efficiency and also between transactional and operational efficiency. Service quality is positively related with operational and profit efficiency. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Measuring efficiency and productivity in professional football teams: Evidence from the English Premier League

Professional football clubs are unusual businesses, their performance judged on and off the field of play. This study is concerned with measuring the efficiency of clubs in the English Premier League. Information from clubs’ financial statements is used as a measure of corporate performance. To measure changes in efficiency and productivity the Malmquist non-parametric technique has been used. This is derived from the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) linear programming approach, with Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) being used to ensure the cohesion of the input-output variables. The study concludes that while clubs operate close to efficient levels for the assessed models, there is limited technological advance in their performance in terms of the displacement of the technological frontier