Critical evaluation of sample pretreatment techniques

Sample preparation before chromatographic separation is the most time-consuming and error-prone part of the analytical procedure. Therefore, selecting and optimizing an appropriate sample preparation scheme is a key factor in the final success of the analysis, and the judicious choice of an appropriate procedure greatly influences the reliability and accuracy of a given analysis. The main objective of this review is to critically evaluate the applicability, disadvantages, and advantages of various sample preparation techniques. Particular emphasis is placed on extraction techniques suitable for both liquid and solid samples. Figure Miniaturised extraction techniques allow sensitive analysis of also small sample volumes.     

Exact analysis of a two-workstation one-buffer flow line with parallel unreliable machines

This paper examines a model of a serial flow line with two workstations and an intermediate buffer. Each workstation consists of multiple unreliable parallel machines which are not necessarily identical, viz., the processing times, failure times and repair times of the parallel machines at each workstation are assumed to be exponentially distributed with non-identical mean rates. The system under consideration is solved via exact Markovian analysis. More specifically, a recursive algorithm that generates the transition matrix for any value of the intermediate buffer capacity is developed and all possible transition equations are derived and solved analytically. Once the transition equations are solved the performance measures of the model under consideration can be easily evaluated. This model may be used as a decomposition block for solving larger flow lines with parallel unreliable machines at each workstation.     

Cost estimation algorithm and decision-making model for curriculum modification in educational organization

The decision about curriculum modification usually takes place at the knowledge level, mainly with consideration of individual academic staff competences and qualifications. However, traditional approaches to cost estimation of curriculum modification are focused on material resources only. In this paper we present a cost estimation method and decision model for curriculum modification in educational organizations. The proposed method works at the knowledge level and employs competence sets as knowledge representation models in educational organizations. Authors used the theory of hierarchical, multilevel systems in order to define the model of the decision-making process of curriculum modification and its dimension. Basing on this and also using a fuzzy competence model the cost estimation algorithm in the form of a group competences expansion algorithm is proposed. The algorithm focuses on the cost of staff competence expansion caused by the knowledge development process.     

Shrinkage estimators for large covariance matrices in multivariate real and complex normal distributions under an invariant quadratic loss

The problem of estimating large covariance matrices of multivariate real normal and complex normal distributions is considered when the dimension of the variables is larger than the number of samples. The Stein–Haff identities and calculus on eigenstructure for singular Wishart matrices are developed for real and complex cases, respectively. By using these techniques, the unbiased risk estimates for certain classes of estimators for the population covariance matrices under invariant quadratic loss functions are obtained for real and complex cases, respectively. Based on the unbiased risk estimates, shrinkage estimators which are counterparts of the estimators due to Haff [L.R. Haff, Empirical Bayes estimation of the multivariate normal covariance matrix, Ann. Statist. 8 (1980) 586–697] are shown to improve upon the best scalar multiple of the empirical covariance matrix under the invariant quadratic loss functions for both real and complex multivariate normal distributions in the situation where the dimension of the variables is larger than the number of samples.     

Nearly monotone and nearly convex approximation by smooth splines in ,

Given a monotone or convex function on a finite interval we construct splines of arbitrarily high order having maximum smoothness which are “nearly monotone” or “nearly convex” and provide the rate of -approximation which can be estimated in terms of the third or fourth (classical or Ditzian–Totik) moduli of smoothness (for uniformly spaced or Chebyshev knots). It is known that these estimates are impossible in terms of higher moduli and are no longer true for “purely monotone” and “purely convex” spline approximation.     

Density results with linear combinations of translates of fundamental solutions

In the present work, we investigate the approximability of solutions of elliptic partial differential equations in a bounded domain Ω by linear combinations of translates of fundamental solutions of the underlying partial differential operator. The singularities of the fundamental solutions lie outside of . The domains under consideration may possess holes and they are required to satisfy a rather mild boundary regularity requirement, namely the segment condition. We study approximations with respect to the norms of the spaces and the spaces of uniformly Hölder continuous functions , and we establish density and non-density results for elliptic operators with constant coefficients. We also provide applications of our density results related to the method of fundamental solutions and to the theory of universal series.     

图书馆知识管理的多层次模糊综合评价方法

根据系统评价原则,采用调查问卷与数学定量研究相结合的处理方法,用模糊综合评价法来评价图书馆知识管理绩效.通过图书馆知识管理绩效评价的实证分析,证明评价指标的科学性、合理性以及切实可行性.     

建设项目动态联盟伙伴信用评价

应用因子分析法对建设项目动态联盟背景下的伙伴信用进行评价。通过网站和问卷调查获取的数据提取出4个公共因子:盈利和成长能力、经营能力、创新能力、履约能力因子;并确定了4个公共因子和16个指标对伙伴信用的影响力度;相关性分析发现,伙伴信用与其绩效密切相关。最后对部分被调研企业中的17个企业的信用水平进行了综合评价,为其采取有效策略提高信用水平提供依据,也为盟主企业选择伙伴提供参考。     

基于主客观权重集成的电子商务网站评价方法

研究了不确定决策环境下企业电子商务网站评价问题。利用专家给出的区间互补判断矩阵,获得属性的主观权重;定义了区间数的平均差,提出了一种属性客观权重确定方法——平均差极大化方法;通过加权系数把主观权重与客观权重线性集成,使得到的综合权重同时反映主观和客观程度,并给出了一种基于投影模型的决策方案排序方法。最后通过算例说明该方法的可行性和有效性。     

Emergy-based analysis of Beijing–Tianjin–Tangshan region in China

An emergy-based analysis was conducted for the Beijing–Tianjin–Tangshan urban agglomeration district from perspectives of emergy density, resource structure, environmental pressure and resource use efficiency during the period of 1991–2005. The results showed that Beijing, Tianjin and Tangshan as contiguous regions shared similar characters and evolving trends in certain aspects as emergy intensity and proportion of local renewable resources on the whole. As for the local resources availability, process efficiency and environmental pressure, however, these three cities have significant differences. With comparison of the other cities in China, it is shown that Beijing–Tianjin–Tangshan region has higher environment loading and lower sustainability level though enjoying rapid urbanization process and economic development. This study also suggests that the first priority on economic development competition within urban agglomeration regions may lead to the wasting of resources and redundant construction, while cooperative and rational selection for development pattern are the proper choice for coordinate regional development and long term sustainability to overcome resource restrictions.