Extrapolation of fuzzy values from incomplete data bases

This paper presents different approaches which enable a data base management system to obtain a plausible fuzzy estimate for an attribute value of an item for which the information is not explicitly stored in the data base. This can be made either by a kind of analogical reasoning from information about particular items or by means of expert rules which specify the (fuzzy) sets of possible values of the attribute under consideration, for various classes of items. Another kind of expert rules enables the system to compute an estimate from the attribute value of another item provided that, in other respects, this latter item sufficiently resembles the item, the value of which we are interested in; then these expert rules are used either for controlling the analogical reasoning process or for enlarging the scope of application of the first kind of expert rules. The different approaches are discussed in the framework of possibility theory.     

Break Expectancy in Duration Discrimination.

Effects of break expectancy, observed previously in time production, were examined in 3 experiments using a discrimination paradigm. Participants classified a tone as being short or long. Location and duration of breaks in tone presentation were varied. Proportion of short responses increased as the break occurred later in the duration to be estimated in all experiments. With a higher number of break locations covering a wider range of location values, functions relating proportion of short responses to location were sigmoid and tended to flatten at extreme values of location. The authors conclude that attentional time-sharing elicited by break expectancy induces loss in accumulation of temporal information, but its effect on discrimination depends on the accumulation outcome relative to a decisional criterion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Individual differences in stimulus intensity modulation and its relationship to two styles of depression in older adults.

Research comparing depressive persons with and without manic symptoms shows striking parallels with differences between augmenters and reducers on the Kinesthetic Aftereffect (KAE) task (A. Petrie, 1967). Twenty-three community-dwelling older adults identified by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (S. R. Hathaway & J. C. McKinley, 1951) as depressive without manic symptoms were compared with 24 older adults with manic symptoms on the KAE, the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI; P. T. Costa & R. R. McCrae, 1985), and Strelau (J. Strelau, 1983) Temperament Inventory. As hypothesized, augmentation was related to depression without manic symptoms, and reduction was related to depression with manic symptoms. Stepwise discriminant analyses indicated that the KAE is a potent discriminator between the 2 types of depression. Three characteristics of Strelau's "strength of nervous system"—excitation, and inhibition and mobility—discriminate significantly between the 2 groups as well as NEO extraversion and conscientiousness. Results suggest that older depressive persons with and without manic symptoms may benefit from different therapeutic interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Phenolic compounds and plant extracts protect paprika against UV-induced discoloration

The efficiency of phenolic antioxidants in protecting paprika carotenoids against discoloration was studied in a model gel system that was exposed to radiation of 274 nm at 20 °C. The fading of the colour of the gel was followed over a 6‐h period. Fifty percent of the colour faded from the control after 70 min of radiation. The ability of each antioxidant to prevent discoloration was assessed by using several different concentrations. Antioxidant compounds can be ranked according to their protective effect on colour: BHT > α‐tocopherol > epigallocatechin gallate > quercetin > rosmarinic acid ≥ caffeic acid and ferulic acid > coumaric acid > catechin. The ability of rosemary and tea extracts to prevent discoloration was comparable to pure compounds and this could be explained by their polyphenol content. Mixtures of α‐tocopherol with rosemary extract revealed strong synergistic effects.     

A preliminary comparison of polybrominated diphenyl ether concentrations relative to lipid content and to levels of dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in Norwegian farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are environmental contaminants structurally similar to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and correlations between PBDE concentrations and concentrations of lipid, PCBs, dioxins and furans in feed and farmed Atlantic salmon filet indicate PBDEs may be derived from similar sources. PBDE concentrations (3.9 ± 0.6 ng g^?1 wet wt) in farmed Atlantic salmon correlated well with lipid content and these other halogenated contaminants, however, lower concentrations of PBDEs (1.6 ± 0.3 ng g^?1 wet wt) showed no correlation. Possible explanations for the non‐linear behaviour of PBDE concentrations in Atlantic salmon are discussed.     

Timing During Interruptions in Timing.

Duration and location of breaks in time interval production were manipulated in various conditions of stimulus presentation (Experiments 1-4). Produced intervals shortened and then stabilized as break duration lengthened, suggesting that participants used the break as a preparatory period to restart timing as quickly as possible at the end of the break. This interpretation was supported in Experiment 5, in which similar results were obtained with a reaction time response executed at the end of the break. In all experiments, produced intervals lengthened as the break occurred later during the interval. The authors conclude that varying break location and duration reveal, respectively, the influence of attentional time-sharing before the interruption and of preparatory processes taking place during the break. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Silver Schottky diodes on Kelvin,AES and LEED characterized (100)surfaces of GaAs cleaned by ion bombardment

Schottky contacts were produced by silver evaporation on GaAs surfaces cleaned by ion bombardment. The samples work function were measured before and after metal deposition with the Kelvin method in an experimental set up which allowed a topographical study and direct comparison between n and p types. Surfaces were controlled by AES and LEED. It was found that the Fermi level of all the surfaces was pinned in the midgap range and so there was, on both n and p types, an important surface barrier qV_s whose value did not strongly depend on the surface preparations we used. The diodes we obtained also presented an important barrier φ_B for both n and p types. So it was deduced that diode barriers corresponded to those that were created by surface states and that metal deposition did not noticeably modify these states. On the other hand, surface preparations played an important role in the electrical performances of the diodes. It was deduced then that ion bombardment deteriorated the first atomic layers of the semiconductor.     

Generalizing database relational algebra for the treatment of incomplete or uncertain information and vague queries

This paper deals with relational databases which are extended in the sense that fuzzily known values are allowed for attributes. Precise as well as partial (imprecise, uncertain) knowledge concerning the value of the attributes are represented by means of [0,1]-valued possibility distributions in Zadeh's sense. Thus, we have to manipulate ordinary relations on Cartesian products of sets of fuzzy subsets rather than fuzzy relations. Besides, vague queries whose contents are also represented by possibility distributions can be taken into account. The basic operations of relational algebra, union, intersection, Cartesian product, projection, and selection are extended in order to deal with partial information and vague queries. Approximate equalities and inequalities modeled by fuzzy relations can also be taken into account in the selection operation. Then, the main features of a query language based on the extended relational algebra are presented. An illustrative example is provided. This approach, which enables a very general treatment of relational databases with fuzzy attribute values, makes an extensive use of dual possibility and necessity measures.     

Behavior of phenolic antioxidants in a partitioned medium: Focus on linoleic acid peroxidation induced by iron/ascorbic acid system

The peroxidation of linoleic acid was induced by the Fe²⁺/ascorbic acid system in a micellar medium, and the kinetics of the produced conjugated dienes to a weak level (0.7 μM) in order to initiate only the sequential oxidative reactions without superimposed antioxidant activity. Other conditions were established to obtain a simple kinetic profile. With a linoleic acid/Fe²⁺ ratio of 10 and an Fe²/ascorbic acid ratio of 23 in the medium emulsified by Tween and saturated in oxygen, no limiting effect of substrates was observed for several hours. Fe²⁺ disappeared in less than 5 min, while a linear propagation rate was reached after 1 h for up to 15 h. Two parameters were chosen to quantify the level of the oxidation: the slope of the linear phase, and the extrapolated absorbance of this step at zero time. These two parameters were used in order to compare the antioxidant power of different phenolic compounds in this partitioned medium.