Productivity and Efficiency in European Milk Production: Can We Observe the Effects of Abolishing Milk Quotas?

The study aims to explore the sources of competitiveness of dairy producers before and after the abolition of milk quotas in selected EU member states. The investigation is based on the stochastic frontier modelling of an input distance function in the specification of the four-error-component model. The model is estimated with a multistep procedure employing the generalized method of moments estimator, addressing the potential endogeneity of netputs, and panel data gained from the FADN database. The results revealed that total factor productivity experienced an increasing trend in the majority of the analysed countries. Since the main driver of productivity growth was found to be the scale effect, our findings support the hypothesis that abolishing milk quotas has a positive effect.

Synthesis and characterization of four N-acylhydrazones as potential O,N,O donors for Cu2+: An experimental and theoretical study

N-acylhydrazones 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-N0 -(2-hydroxybenzylidene)acetohydrazide, N0 -(2-hydroxybenzylidene)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)acetohydrazide, 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-N0 -(2,4-dihydroxybenzylidene)-acetohydrazide, and N0 -(2,4-dihydroxybenzylidene)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)acetohydrazide were successfully synthesized by a multistep procedure. The obtained organic molecules were characterized by spectroscopic techniques (FT-IR, 1D and 2D NMR, UV-Vis) and mass spectrometry. The structure of 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-N0 -(2-hydroxybenzylidene)acetohydrazide was also confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Ab initio computational simulations of the ligand spectra were in good agreement with experimental data and validated the hypothesis about the existence of a conformational mixture of each ligand in solution. Finally, the complexation potential of the synthesized ligands to Cu2+ was assessed by continuous variation experiments and FT-IR spectroscopy.

Automated Multistep Parameter Identification of SPMSMs in Large-Scale Applications Using Cloud Computing Resources

Parameter identification of permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSMs) represents a well-established research area. However, parameter estimation of multiple running machines in large-scale applications has not yet been investigated. In this context, a flexible and automated approach is required to minimize complexity, costs, and human interventions without requiring machine information. This paper proposes a novel identification strategy for surface PMSMs (SPMSMs), highly suitable for large-scale systems. A novel multistep approach using measurement data at different operating conditions of the SPMSM is proposed to perform the parameter identification without requiring signal injection, extra sensors, machine information, and human interventions. Thus, the proposed method overcomes numerous issues of the existing parameter identification schemes. An IoT/cloud architecture is designed to implement the proposed multistep procedure and massively perform SPMSM parameter identifications. Finally, hardware-in-the-loop results show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

The Matryoshka technique in percutaneous nephrolithotomy

Objective: Miniaturized percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) reduces the risk of haemorrhagic complications, but the limited field of work represents a drawback. To obtain the best outcomes, the percutaneous access size should be intraoperatively tailored. Our purpose is to describe the indications and the procedural steps of the Matryoshka technique and to report its clinical outcomes. Materials and methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of the data from consecutive Matryoshka PCNL procedures from October 2016 to January 2018. Collected data included patients’ history, stone characteristics, intra- and post-operative items, stone clearance and need for retreatment. The main indication to the Matryoshka technique is the inability to securely position a guidewire due to an obstruction or narrowness in the pyelocalyceal system. This technique begins by puncturing the calyx hosting the stone and advancing a hydrophilic guidewire through the needle. If the guidewire cannot proceed beyond the stone, the Matryoshka technique is employed for tract stabilization. The tract is carefully dilated with small-bore instruments and a cautious lithotripsy is performed to create enough space to introduce the guidewire beyond the stone under visual control. Once the access has been stabilized the surgeon can upsize the tract to the optimum to complete the procedure. Additionally, the technique can be employed when an intraoperative reassessment induces the surgeon to further dilate the tract to quicken the procedure. Results: Sixteen patients were included, with a median stone volume of 3.49 cm3. Median operative time was 112 minutes. Three Clavien I-II (postoperative fever) and one Clavien IIIB (colon perforation) complications were reported. No blood transfusions were recorded. Three patients underwent scheduled retreatment as part of a multistep procedure. Out of the remaining 13 patients, 10 (76.9%) obtained a complete stone clearance.Conclusions: The Matryoshka technique helps the urologist to obtain a secure percutaneous access and makes PCNL flexible and progressive, potentially minimizing the risk of access-related complications.

Air Traffic Controllers’ Attitude to the Mistakes Hazards during Their Professional Experience

Air traffic controllers’ (ATCs) work process can be presented as uninterrupted set of decisions. These decisions occur and are implemented in both clear and stealth forms being influenced a lot. Determined and stochastic risks are especially important in this process. Human factor (HF) effect on flight safety is proven to be better considered through operators’ attitudes toward unsafe acts and conditions. This seamlessly integrates in ICAO safety paradigm. Air traffic controllers’ preferences system (PS) is discussed in regard to typical professional mistakes set. Using paired comparison, normative part of summary hazard and differentiating part of summary hazard, the preferences system of air traffic controllers is received. For the first time, mistakes pair summary hazard is determined on the unique qualimetric 100-point scale. Systems pair has high correlation level according to Spearman coefficient (R = 0.9727). Proposed Kendall rank coefficient outweighs the traditional one twice (Wtraditional = 0.2722, Wproposed = 0.55237). The significance level for all cases is equal to 1%. Multistep procedure of marginal opinions separation is implemented. It increased Kendall rank coefficient value up to Wproposed = 0.7. Survey procedure influenced positively on the ability of mistakes memorization, recognition, and avoidance during simulation training.

What We Really Know About Biosynthesis of Cellulose from Ficus palmate: A Novel Biomass Production

Current research attention has been motivated on the successful synthesis of cellulose from biomass waste of Ficus palmate through multistep process i.e. bleaching and alkali treatment to efficiently eradicate impurities, waxy substances like pectin, cutin, waxes, extractives, hemicellulose and lignin from F. palmate. The cellulose obtained was analyzed by using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The isolated cellulose has high degree of purity and crystallinity (61%) and thermal stability as verified by XRD and TGA, respectively. SEM was used for surface morphology and shape. Highly visible pores with channels were detected on the surface. Moreover it also shows that the free surface from lignin and hemicelluloses due to chemical treatment. This study indicates that the multistep procedure is quite adequate for the extraction of cellulose.

N-Terpenyl Benzisoselenazolones—Evaluation of the Particular Structure-Bioactivity Relationship

Different activity of compounds with the same molecular formula but possessing alternative bonding arrangement or orientation of atoms in space is a very important issue when constructing molecules that can selectively interact with certain domains of the biological target. Herein, we present the synthesis of the new chiral benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-ones substituted on the nitrogen atom with three monoterpene moieties: p-menthane, pinane and carane. All derivatives were obtained by the reaction of an appropriate amine with 2-(chloroseleno)benzoyl chloride. The applied terpenyl amines were first synthetized by a multistep procedure starting from the corresponding alcohol (p-menthane system) or alkene (pinene and carene systems). Finally, all compounds were tested as antioxidants and antiproliferative agents on breast cancer MCF-7 and human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60. The correlation between the structure of the obtained organoselenium compounds, representing examples of various isomers including enantiomers, diastereoisomers and regioisomers, and their bio-activity was thoroughly evaluated.

Push-Pull Chromophores Based on the Naphthalene Scaffold: Potential Candidates for Optoelectronic Applications

A series of ten push-pull chromophores comprising 1H-cyclopenta[b]naphthalene-1,3(2H)-dione as the electron-withdrawing group have been designed, synthesized, and characterized by UV-visible absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and theoretical calculations. The solvatochromic behavior of the different dyes has been examined in 23 solvents and a positive solvatochromism has been found for all dyes using the Kamlet-Taft solvatochromic relationship, demonstrating the polar form to be stabilized in polar solvents. To establish the interest of this polyaromatic electron acceptor only synthesizable in a multistep procedure, a comparison with the analog series based on the benchmark indane-1,3-dione (1H-indene-1,3(2H)-dione) has been done. A significant red-shift of the intramolecular charge transfer band has been found for all dyes, at a comparable electron-donating group. Parallel to the examination of the photophysical properties of the different chromophores, a major improvement of the synthetic procedure giving access to 1H-cyclopenta[b]naphthalene-1,3(2H)-dione has been achieved.

Developing a neuro–fuzzy system to classify drainage sub-basins according to erosion processes on the Island of Lefkas, Greece

In this paper we attempt to classify drainage sub-basins according to their erosion risk. We have adopted a multistep procedure to face this problem. The input variables were introduced into a GIS – platform. These variables were the vulnerability of the surface rocks to erosion, topographic variations, vegetation cover, land use and drainage basin characteristics. We constructed a fuzzy inference mechanism to pre-process the input variables. Next we used neural–network technology to process the input variables. The system was trained to ‘learn’ and classify the input data. The output of this procedure was a classification of the sub-drainage basins related to their risk of erosion. This neuro–fuzzy system was applied to the island of Lefkas (Greece).

Ecofriendly Isolation of Cellulose from Eucalyptus lenceolata: A Novel Approach

This study reports the extraction of cellulose by means of an environment-friendly multistep procedure involving alkaline treatment and totally chlorine-free bleaching. The multistep process begins with the removal of pectin, cutin, waxes, and other extractives from Eucalyptus lenceolata straw, followed by the removal of hemicelluloses and lignin using an alkaline treatment, and lastly by further delignification of the cellulose pulp through a two-step bleaching process, first with the use of hydrogen peroxide/tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED) and then with the use of a mixture of acetic and nitric acids. The Eucalyptus lenceolata samples were collected from the mountains of the Malakand division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan and were ground into smaller particles. The pulp resulting from each step was characterized by infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) to detect structural changes. The purified cellulose was characterized through different analytical techniques such as Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The isolated cellulose has a high degree of purity and crystallinity (73%) and thermal stability as verified by XRD and TGA, respectively. SEM was used to study the surface morphology of cellulose, indicating that the surface was free from lignin and hemicelluloses due to the chemical treatment. This study indicates that the multistep procedure is quite adequate for the extraction of cellulose.