Search results for "SSM"
showing 10 items of 5273 documents
Two New Alternatives to the Conventional Arm-in-Cage Test for Assessing Topical Repellents
2021
Abstract European guidelines for testing attractant and repellent efficacy (i.e., Product type 19 [PT19]) have been in revision since 2017. A key topic of discussion is the current approach to evaluating topical repellents. The European Chemical Agency has stated field testing should be avoided because of mosquito-borne disease risks. However, the most common laboratory method, the arm-in-cage (AIC) test, may limit the reliable extrapolation of lab results to field conditions. This study’s main goal was to assess alternative laboratory methods for evaluating topical mosquito repellents that use mosquito landing rates more representative of those in the field. The study took place at three E…
Kasiski's Test: Couldn't the Repetitions be by Accident?
2006
Abstract In searching for repetitions in a periodic polyalphabetic ciphertext, we usually find several true (causal) repetitions that give information about the period. But we also find some accidental repetitions at distances unrelated to the period which may mislead the cryptanalyst. A simple formula shows that these accidents are rather unlikely.
Review of Advanced Acoustical Imaging Techniques for Nondestructive Evaluation of Art Objects
2006
Proper preventative diagnosis of different art objects, including wooden, bronze and marble sculptures, frescoes, and paintings (on canvas, wood, metal, and glass), is very important for conservation purposes. Various advanced ultrasonic imaging methods for analysis and assessment of art objects can bring about drastic changes in the regular evaluation and inventory carried out by museums and can bring advanced, powerful, and new techniques for objective assessment of physical conditions of museum resplendence. Using these methods, it will be possible to plan ad hoc repair works on art objects, and, as a result, we will preserve our heritage. The goal of this review is to introduce recent a…
Exposure assessment of Spanish lactating mothers to acrylamide via human biomonitoring.
2021
Abstract Acrylamide (AA) is an organic compound classified as “Probably carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2 A) that can be found principally in processed carbohydrate-rich foods and tobacco smoke. In humans, after exposure, AA is rapidly metabolized and excreted in urine, predominantly as N-acetyl-S-(2-carbamoylethyl)-l-cysteine (AAMA), N-acetyl-S-(2-carbamoyl-2-hydroxyethyl)-l-cysteine (GAMA3) and N-Acetyl-3-[(3-amino-3-oxopropyl)sulfinyl]-L-alanine (AAMA-Sul), which can be used as short-term biomarkers of exposure to AA. In this study, the presence of AA metabolites in urine samples of lactating mothers living in Spain (n = 114) was analyzed by “dilute and shoot” and liquid chromatography co…
A radiometric and petrographic approach to risk assessment at Alte Madonie Mounts region (Sicily, Italy)
2013
The main goal of this work was to assess the radiological hazard at Alte Madonie Mounts region (north-central Sicily, Italy) in response to rumours of an increase in the incidence of cancer in this area. A correlation between the natural radionuclide contents and the petrographic features of the soil and rock samples was also evaluated. A total of 41 samples of selected soils and rocks were collected, powdered, dried and sealed in 'Marinelli' beakers for 20 d prior to measurement to ensure that a radioactive equilibrium between (226)Ra and (214)Bi had been reached. A gamma-ray spectrometer was used to quantify the radioactivity concentrations. To determine (238)U and (232)Th activities, the…
Immersive Versus Non-immersive Experience: Exploring the Feasibility of Memory Assessment Through 360° Technology
2019
Episodic memory is essential to effectively perform a number of daily activities, as it enables individuals to consciously recall experiences within their spatial and temporal environments. Virtual Reality (VR) serves as an efficacious instrument to assess cognitive functions like attention and memory. Previous studies have adopted computer-simulated VR to assess memory, which realized greater benefits compared to traditional procedures (paper and pencil). One of the most recent trends of immersive VR experiences is the 360° technology. In order to evaluate its capabilities, this study aims to compare memory performance through two tasks: immersive task and non-immersive task. These tasks d…
Family Structure and Subjective Economic Well-Being: Some New Evidence
2013
The paper investigates the main socio-demographic and economic determinants of subjective economic well-being in different typologies of households. Previous studies have used dummy variables to explore the effect of family structure. In this paper, however four different models—one for each family typology—have been estimated to test if each selected explanatory variable is significant and how it acts in determining the level of subjective economic well-being. To achieve this, we apply an under-used logit model—the partial proportional ordered model. Our analysis, based on data from the 2005 Italian Survey on Income and Living Conditions highlights the main variables affecting the subjecti…
Motor Vehicles Not Used in Road Traffic Are Also Subject to Compulsory Insurance in Europe - CJEU Clarification in Case C-80/17
2019
The article analyses a recent significant case in the Court of Justice of the European Union on the extent of compulsory insurance in the field of motor insurance. The judgment delivered by the Grand Chamber of the CJEU on 04 September 2018 clarifies the obligation to conclude a motor insurance contract in a situation when a motor vehicle is no longer intended to be used in road traffic. If previously there was no doubt that motor vehicles that are used in road traffic are subject to compulsory insurance, it was unclear whether compulsory insurance in the field of motor insurance also extends to vehicles which are no longer intended to be used in road traffic. The Court formulated the ‘thre…
Identifying Portfolio-Based Systematic Risk Factors in Equity Markets
2015
Four new prominent asset pricing factors have recently been proposed. We test whether these factors fulfill necessary conditions for qualifying those as risk factors. We show that the investment and betting-against-beta factors fulfill these conditions. However, the profitability and quality factors do not fulfill these conditions pointing towards non-risk-based explanations.
Psychological State after an Acute Coronary Syndrome: Impact of Physical Limitations
2021
The aim of this study was to investigate how physical limitations after ACS influence patients’ quality of life and health perception. This was a longitudinal clinical study. We recruited 146 patients diagnosed with ACS. The patients performed a stress test (Bruce’s protocol) for the evaluation of physical limitations and were classified according to the test result: without physical limitations (more than 10 METS), with some physical limitations (7 to 9 METS), and with high physical limitations (less than 6 METS). Significant differences were found between the three groups immediately after the diagnosis of ACS and after a period of three months, regarding health perception, anxiety, depre…