Determining citizens’ opinions about stories in the news media

We describe a method whereby a governmental policy maker can discover citizens’ reaction to news stories. This is particularly relevant in the political world, where governments’ policy statements are reported by the news media and discussed by citizens. The work here addresses two main questions: whereabouts are citizens discussing a news story, and what are they saying? Our strategy to answer the first question is to find news articles pertaining to the policy statements, then perform internet searches for references to the news articles’ headlines and URLs. We have created a software tool that schedules repeating Google searches for the news articles and collects the results in a database, enabling the user to aggregate and analyse them to produce ranked tables of sites that reference the news articles. Using data mining techniques we can analyse data so that resultant ranking reflects an overall aggregate score, taking into account multiple datasets, and this shows the most relevant places on the internet where the story is discussed. To answer the second question, we introduce the WeGov toolbox as a tool for analysing citizens’ comments and behaviour pertaining to news stories.  We first use the tool for identifying social network discussions, using different strategies for Facebook and Twitter. We apply different analysis components to analyse the data to distil the essence of the social network users’ comments, to determine influential users and identify important comments

O conceito de «Actividad Dirigida» inscrito no artigo 15.º, numero 1 alinea c). Do Regulamento «Bruxelas I» e a Internet: subsidios do Tribunal de Justiça por ocãsiao do acórdão Pammer/Alpenhof

Resumo: Para além do mais, a decisão pelo Tribunal de Justiça da União Europeia emitida nos casos apensos Pammer/Alpenhof versa a interpretação do conceito de «actividade dirigida» inscrito no artigo 15.º, número 1, alínea c), do Regulamento (CE) n.º 44/2001. De acordo com o pronunciamento do Tribunal, a circunstância de o sítio do profissional ser acessível a partir do Estado do domicílio do consumidor é insuficiente para dar por demonstrado que aquele profissional dirige a sua actividade ao Estado-Membro do domicílio do consumidor. A presente anotação passa em revista crítica a linha argumentativa desenvolvida pela instância jurisdicional.Palavras-chave: competência jurisdicional internacional, Regulamento (CE) n.º 44/2001, contratos celebrados por consumidores, o conceito de «actividade dirigida», internet.Abstract: Inter alia, the joint ruling issued by the EUCJ on 7th December 2010 addressed the applicability of Article 15(1)(c) of Regulation EC No 44/2001 («the Brussels I Regulation») vis-à-vis the use of web sites. In particular, the Court was summoned to clarify whether, in order to justify a finding that an activity is being «directed» within the terms of the aforesaid Article, it is sufficient that a website of the party with whom a consumer has concluded a contract can be consulted on the internet. The Court answered in the negative. Further, the Court catalogued a number of factors designed at helping national courts determine whether a business is directed towards consumers in other European states. This annotation provides for a detailed review and a critical analysis of the EUCJ’s decision.Key words: international jurisdiction, Regulation (EC) No 44/2001, consumer contracts, direction of activity, Internet

Unusual electromyographic findings in a patient with polymyalgia rheumatica

A case of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) with biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis (GCA) is described in which there were marked abnormalities noted on electromyography (EMG). Spike potentials, positive waves, and fibrillation potentials were seen in the proximal musculature of the upper and lower extremities as well as in the erector spinae muscles. Investigation failed to reveal abnormalities in either creatinine phosphokinase (CPK), aldolase, or muscle obtained at biopsy. The presence of these EMG findings in the PMR-GCA syndrome is unusual. Response to therapy with systemic corticosteroids and normalization of the EMG are documented.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/37740/1/1780220310_ftp.pd

Estimating Sediment Loading Using SWAT and Identifying Habitat Differences in Reference and Impaired Streams

Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to estimate the sediment loading in reference and impaired streams of Oklahoma. Two streams east of I35 were studied, of which one was reference and the other was impaired. The results were compared to the transport capacity of the streams computed using Yang's Equation. Parameters on the micro-scale habitats (substrate, instream cover, and flow condition), macro-scale habitats (channel geometry and sediment deposition), and parameters evaluating the riparian and bank structure (such as bank stability, vegetation, and streamside cover) between the reference and impaired streams were also compared.nFinding and Conclusion: The comparison revealed that in the reference stream the sediment loading from the watershed is lower than the transport capacity, while in the impaired stream the sediment loading is higher than the transport capacity. Significant differences in the compared habitat parameters were also found.Biosystems and Agricultural Engineerin

Demonstration of antibodies against Brucella melitensis 16M lipopolysaccharide and native hapten in human sera by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection and quantification of human immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgA, and IgM antibodies against Brucella melitensis 16M by using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and native hapten (NH) as antigens is described. The results obtained with the LPS ELISA were compared with the results of the NH ELISA. A good statistically significant correlation was established between the antibody titers of the IgG class against both antigens. A total of 104 (99%) of the 105 serum samples of patients with brucellosis exhibited specific anti-NH antibodies by the ELISA technique. In 52 (50%) of these positive samples, antibodies against NH were detected by radial immunodiffusion (RID). In 100% of these RID-positive sera, the antibody titers of the IgG class with ELISA-determined anti-NH specificity were equal to or greater than 160. These results point to a higher sensitivity of the ELISA technique as compared with RID. Inhibition experiments revealed that the assay was specific for LPS and NH from B. melitensis 16M.</jats:p

Demonstration of antibodies against Brucella melitensis 16M lipopolysaccharide and native hapten in human sera by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection and quantification of human immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgA, and IgM antibodies against Brucella melitensis 16M by using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and native hapten (NH) as antigens is described. The results obtained with the LPS ELISA were compared with the results of the NH ELISA. A good statistically significant correlation was established between the antibody titers of the IgG class against both antigens. A total of 104 (99%) of the 105 serum samples of patients with brucellosis exhibited specific anti-NH antibodies by the ELISA technique. In 52 (50%) of these positive samples, antibodies against NH were detected by radial immunodiffusion (RID). In 100% of these RID-positive sera, the antibody titers of the IgG class with ELISA-determined anti-NH specificity were equal to or greater than 160. These results point to a higher sensitivity of the ELISA technique as compared with RID. Inhibition experiments revealed that the assay was specific for LPS and NH from B. melitensis 16M