As new concept radar combing quantum technology with radar technology, quantum radar is an extension of traditional radar theory and has the potential to break through the limit of conventional radar ...detection performance. We study quantum radar optimum decision strategies for various signal and background forms and compare them with traditional photon-counting strategies. Quantum optimum strategy gives better detection probability with fixed false-alarm probability, thus reducing needed signal strength to detect the target, but its validity strongly depends on exact knowledge of signal forms. We briefly discuss the influence of deviating signal amplitudes and phases, and find that in the condition that the false-alarm probability is very small quantum optimum strategy is still useful when the signal form varies in a small region.
This study used a multiple probe across participants design, replicated across two interventions and counterbalanced across participant groups to examine the effects of number sense intervention and ...extensive practice intervention on strategy transformation when students with mathematics learning disabilities (MLD) solved basic fact problems. In addition, the effects of both interventions on students' fact retrieval performance and generalization performance were also tested. To examine the effects of each intervention, the participants were divided into two groups and the order of the interventions was varied between the two groups. The results showed that, in general, students demonstrated a greater extent of strategy transformation and generalization after receiving the number sense intervention. However, the extensive practice intervention promoted students' use of retrieval-based strategies to solve basic facts. Findings suggested that both interventions had positive impacts on students with MLD and should be used in tandem.
Este estudo de caso investigou se crianças surdas, filhas de pais surdos, estão em vantagem para aprender conceitos numéricos comparados com crianças surdas, filhas de pais ouvintes. Comparamos a ...resposta à intervenção de duas crianças de 6 anos de idade: um menino sinalizante nativo e uma menina que entrou em contato com a língua de sinais a partir dos 2 anos de idade. Ambos participaram de uma intervenção breve projetada para melhorar a compreensão da composição aditiva e o uso de procedimentos econômicos de contagem na resolução de problemas. Contrariamente às nossas expectativas, as crianças alcançaram níveis semelhantes no uso de procedimentos de contagem, na compreensão aditiva do número e também no aumento do campo numérico.
The purpose of the experiment reported was to investigate the effect of a mathematics intervention on counting strategies and levels of performance of young children with special educational needs. ...For six months, 32 children participated in the intervention. They were compared with 26 children in a non-intervention control group. Observation of four types of tasks took place at two, four and six months after the intervention had begun. Results suggested that the particular instructional programme used with the experimental group was no better than the teaching programmes used by teachers in the control group. These results may, however, be explained by ceiling effects. Implications for future research are discussed.
Nowadays, the biomolecular assay platforms built-up based on bead counting technologies have emerged to be powerful tools for the sensitive and high-throughput detection of disease biomarkers. In ...this mini-review, we classified the bead counting technologies into statistical counting platforms and digital counting platforms. The design principles, the readout strategies, as well as the pros and cons of these platforms are introduced in detail. Finally, we point out that the digital bead counting technologies will lead the future trend for the absolute quantification of critical biomarkers, and the integration of new signal amplification approaches and routine optical/clinical instruments may provide new opportunities in building-up easily accessible digital assay platforms.
Phytoplankton is recognised as a biological quality element and a biological descriptor in European Directives (WFD, MSFD) and several national laws. To determine the biodiversity and abundance of ...phytoplankton assemblages, the Utermöhl method, using an inverted light microscope, is the most widely used. Nevertheless, the Utermöhl method, standardised as UNI EN 15204 (2006), is time-consuming and labour intensive. We developed and tested PhytoNumb3rs, a tool for supporting microscope-based analysis of phytoplankton. PhytoNumb3rs is designed to make cell density calculation easier and to take account of qualitative and quantitative aspects regarding data precision, bias and method sensitivity. Specifically, it makes it possible to assess the performance characteristics of single analyses. PhytoNumb3rs is a user-friendly computing system based on a combination of Excel® spreadsheets. It allows the user to count phytoplankton cells, at various magnifications using various counting strategies, and to obtain the relative cell density, uncertainty and detection limit for each taxon. PhytoNumb3rs enables analysts to adopt a suitable counting strategy, run the analyses and easily perform all the steps associated with conventional microscope-based phytoplankton procedures (counting, data entry, computation, and data storage in a structured database). It allows the user to calculate the performance characteristics associated with the analytical results in accordance with UNI EN 15204 (2006) quality control procedures. Finally, it represents a useful tool for data harmonisation and data standardisation which in turn, are needed in order to increase the quality, comparability and accessibility of intra- and inter-laboratory data over time.
•PhytoNumb3rs is a tool supporting analysis of phytoplankton with Utermöhl method•PhytoNumb3rs represents a useful tool for data harmonisation and standardisation•It calculates both cell density uncertainty (for total and single taxa) and the LOD•Your use reduces significantly the time request for laboratory analysis
Ki67 is currently the proliferation biomarker of choice, with both prognostic and predictive value in breast cancer. A lack of consensus regarding Ki67 use in pre-analytical, analytical and ...post-analytical practice may hinder its formal acceptance in the clinical setting.
One hundred breast cancer samples were stained for Ki67. A standard estimation of Ki67 using fixed denominators of 200, 400 and 1 000 counted tumor cells was performed, and a cut-off at 20% was applied, Ki67static. A novel stepwise counting strategy for Ki67 estimation, Ki67scs, was developed based on rejection regions derived from exact two-sided binomial confidence intervals for proportions. Ki67scs was defined by the following parameters: the cut-off (20%), minimum (50) and maximum (400) number of tumor cells to count, increment (10) and overall significance level of the test procedure (0.05). Results from Ki67scs were compared to results from the Ki67static estimation with fixed denominators.
For Ki67scs, the median number of tumor cells needed to determine Ki67 status was 100; the average, 175. Among 38 highly proliferative samples, the average Ki67scs fraction was 45%. For these samples, the fraction decreased from 39% to 37% to 35% with static counting of 200, 400 and 1 000 cells, respectively. The largest absolute difference between the estimation methods was 23% (42% (Ki67scs) vs. 19% (Ki67static)) and resulted in an altered sample classification. Among the 82 unequivocal samples, 74 samples received the same classification using both Ki67scs and Ki67static. Of the eight disparate samples, seven were classified highly proliferative by Ki67static when 200 cells were counted; whereas all eight cases were classified as low proliferative when 1 000 cells were counted.
Ki67 estimation using fixed denominators may be inadequate, particularly for tumors demonstrating extensive heterogeneity. We propose a time saving stepwise counting strategy, which acknowledges small highly proliferative hot spots.
The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/3588156111195336.
Young children acquire ‘Number Sense’ through daily life. Number sense refers to ability which represent and manipulate numerosities on a mental number line. Recently, the development of the mental ...number line has been investigated using the number-to-position task. The previous study showed that many preschoolers used the counting strategy involving the index finger on the number line to estimate the position, and this strategy potentially influenced the type of estimations. This study examines whether the estimations of young children were influenced by the counting strategy or the numerical representations. The results show that the type of estimation reflected the mental representation of a specific unit despite the counting strategy. Therefore, it was suggested that young children used the mental representation of the specific unit while estimating, and that it affected their mental number line.
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