Multithreshold majority decoding of LDPC-codes

The article deals with the majority decoding LDPC-codes - three-dimensional linear iterative codes. The possibility of correcting different types of multiple errors is analyzed. The expediency of using multithreshold majority decoding with codes, belonging to this class is presented

The effect of trees isolation on mossy pine forest growth when cutting trees of productivity classes IV and V

Due to the fact that there are still some contradictory viewpoints on the matter of increasing of forest total productivity by cleaning cuttings the given research has been done. The forest total productivity is made up of natural mortality as well as the volume of intermediate and final forest cuttings. It is impossible to indentify correctly the forest trees reaction of different productivity classes when a cleaning cutting has been carried out. Taking into account all facts mentioned above, a special permanent sample forest plot was laid in 1977 by the researchers of forest Silviculture department of the Belarusian State Technological University. The sample plot is represented by a 30-years pine mossy forest stand in Negoreloe experimental forestry enterprise. Based on the data from the permanent sample plot the cleaning cutting effect on productivity of pine mossy forest stands, and the process of their forming when one sampled and cut down trees of different productivity classes has been researched

Silvicultural effectiveness of regeneration felling in pine forests of Verkhneberezinskiy geobotanical zone

As a result of regeneration cuttings in Pinetum pleuroziosum formed pure and mixed stands in composition of natural origin (10Pine and 8Pine2Birch). Due to the presence in the composition of deciduous species are very important to timely silvicultural treatments for the successful formation of plantations with the target species composition. On the part of the mineralized areas considered significant amount of pine undergrowth, soduring regeneration cutting with harvesting and removal of logs from logging sites for the successful renewal is required soil mineralization

Forests stands growing after uniform and strip gradual fellings in pine forests of okinchitski forest station of Stolbtsy Experimental forestry enterprise

Pinetum vacciniosum, Pinetum pleuroziosum and Pinetum pteridiosum are renewed pine, spruce, birch and aspen. After creating a new pine forest on cuttings formed from a mixed of wood species (in the Pinetum vacciniosum – 7Pine2Birch1Aspen and 8Pine2Birch + Aspen, in Pinetum pleuroziosum – 9Pine1Birch + Aspen, in Pinetum pteridiosum – 6Pine4Spruce + Birch and 8Pine2Spruce + Birch). It is necessary to spend cuttings for formation of desirable specific structure on all sites

Childhood body mass index trajectories: modeling, characterizing, pairwise correlations and socio-demographic predictors of trajectory characteristics

Background: Modeling childhood body mass index (BMI) trajectories, versus estimating change in BMI between specific ages, may improve prediction of later body-size-related outcomes. Prior studies of BMI trajectories are limited by restricted age periods and insufficient use of trajectory information. Methods: Among 3,289 children seen at 81,550 pediatric well-child visits from infancy to 18 years between 1980 and 2008, we fit individual BMI trajectories using mixed effect models with fractional polynomial functions. From each child's fitted trajectory, we estimated age and BMI at infancy peak and adiposity rebound, and velocity and area under curve between 1 week, infancy peak, adiposity rebound, and 18 years. Results: Among boys, mean (SD) ages at infancy BMI peak and adiposity rebound were 7.2 (0.9) and 49.2 (11.9) months, respectively. Among girls, mean (SD) ages at infancy BMI peak and adiposity rebound were 7.4 (1.1) and 46.8 (11.0) months, respectively. Ages at infancy peak and adiposity rebound were weakly inversely correlated (r = -0.09). BMI at infancy peak and adiposity rebound were positively correlated (r = 0.76). Blacks had earlier adiposity rebound and greater velocity from adiposity rebound to 18 years of age than whites. Higher birth weight z-score predicted earlier adiposity rebound and higher BMI at infancy peak and adiposity rebound. BMI trajectories did not differ by birth year or type of health insurance, after adjusting for other socio-demographics and birth weight z-score. Conclusions: Childhood BMI trajectory characteristics are informative in describing childhood body mass changes and can be estimated conveniently. Future research should evaluate associations of these novel BMI trajectory characteristics with adult outcomes.Version of Recor

Sex-Specific Associations of Gestational Glucose Tolerance With Childhood Body Composition

OBJECTIVE To examine the associations of maternal gestational glucose tolerance with offspring body composition in late childhood. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Among 958 women in the prebirth cohort Project Viva, glucose tolerance was assessed in the second trimester by nonfasting 50-g 1-h glucose challenge test (GCT), followed if abnormal by fasting 100-g 3-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). We categorized women as normoglycemic (83.3%) if GCT was ≤140 mg/dL, isolated hyperglycemia (9.1%) if GCT was abnormal but OGTT normal, intermediate glucose intolerance (IGI) (3.3%) if there was one abnormal value on OGTT, or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (4.5%) if there were two or more abnormal OGTT values. Using multivariable linear regression, we examined adjusted associations of glucose tolerance with offspring overall (N = 958) and central (N = 760) adiposity and body composition using dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measured at the school-age visit (95 ± 10 months). RESULTS Compared with that in the male offspring of normoglycemic mothers, DXA fat mass was higher in male offspring of GDM mothers (1.89 kg [95% CI 0.33–3.45]) but not in male offspring of mothers with IGI (0.06 kg [−1.45 to 1.57]). DXA trunk-to-peripheral fat mass, a measure of central adiposity, was also somewhat higher in male offspring of GDM mothers (0.04 [−0.01 to 0.09]). In girls, DXA fat mass was higher in offspring of mothers with IGI (2.23 kg [0.12–4.34]) but not GDM (−1.25 kg [−3.13 to 0.63]). We showed no association of gestational glucose tolerance with DXA lean mass. CONCLUSIONS In this study, only male offspring of GDM mothers manifested increased adiposity, whereas only female offspring of mothers with IGI did so. Sex differences in glycemic sensitivity may explain these findings

Giant Alcohol: A Worthy Opponent for the Children of the Band of Hope

From its foundation in 1847, the temperance organisation the Band of Hope addressed its young members as consumers, victims, and agents. In the first two roles they encountered the effects of drink of necessity, but in the third role they were encouraged to seek it out, attempting to influence individuals and wider society against 'Giant Alcohol'. With an estimated membership of half the school-age population by the early twentieth century, well over three million, the Band of Hope also acted more directly to influence policy, and encouraged young people to consider issues of policy and politics. With its wide range of activities and material to educate, entertain and empower millions of children, and its radical view of the place of the child, the Band of Hope not only mobilised its child members to lobby for legal change, including prohibition, but took an active part in pointing out the cost of alcohol to society, particularly during the 14-18 war. The organisation began to decline post 1918, and this paper focuses on the address made to children by the Band of Hope in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, at a time when its innovative view of children as able to understand and influence policy decisions reflected developments in the construction of childhood. This article draws on the archive of the British National Temperance League, over 50,000 items located in the Livesey Collection, University of Central Lancashire

Confounding by indication affects antimicrobial risk factors for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus but not vancomycin-resistant enterococci acquisition

Background: Observational studies rarely account for confounding by indication, whereby empiric antibiotics initiated for signs and symptoms of infection prior to the diagnosis of infection are then viewed as risk factors for infection. We evaluated whether confounding by indication impacts antimicrobial risk factors for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) acquisition. Findings: We previously reported several predictors of MRSA and VRE acquisition in 967 intensive care unit (ICU) patients with no prior history of MRSA or VRE who had an initial negative screening culture followed by either a subsequent negative screening culture (controls) or positive screening or clinical culture (cases). Within and prior to this acquisition interval, we collected demographic, comorbidity, daily device and antibiotic utilization data. We now re-evaluate all antibiotics by medical record review for evidence of treatment for signs and symptoms ultimately attributable to MRSA or VRE. Generalized linear mixed models are used to assess variables associated with MRSA or VRE acquisition, accounting for clustering by ward. We find that exclusion of empiric antibiotics given for suspected infection affects 17% (113/661) of antibiotic prescriptions in 25% (60/244) of MRSA-positive patients but only 1% (5/491) of antibiotic prescriptions in 1% (3/227) of VRE-positive patients. In multivariate testing, fluoroquinolones are no longer associated with MRSA acquisition, and aminoglycosides are significantly protective (OR = 0.3, CI:0.1-0.7). Conclusions: Neglecting treatment indication may cause common empiric antibiotics to appear spuriously associated with MRSA acquisition. This effect is absent for VRE, likely because empiric therapy is infrequent given the low prevalence of VRE

Influence of conditions for obtaining styrene copolymers on paper properties

The influence of the conditions for obtaining reinforcing additives based on copolymers of styrene and maleic anhydride on change of the physical and mechanical properties of paper is established. The obtained products are completely soluble in water and have an anionic character. Greater anion character has partially saponified sample. The results of thermogravimetric analysis showed that the greater resistance to thermo-chemical degradation has a saponified sample. In this case, activation energy is 177.2 kJ/mol