Fuzzy versus quantitative association rules: a fair data-driven comparison.

As opposed to quantitative association rule mining, fuzzy association rule mining is said to prevent the overestimation of boundary cases, as can be shown by small examples. Rule mining, however, becomes interesting in large databases, where the problem of boundary cases is less apparent and can be further suppressed by using sensible partitioning methods. A data-driven approach is used to investigate if there is a significant difference between quantitative and fuzzy association rules in large databases. The influence of the choice of a particular triangular norm in this respect is also examined.     

The sources of normativity: Young children's awareness of the normative structure of games.

In two studies, the authors investigated 2- and 3-year-old children's awareness of the normative structure of conventional games. In the target conditions, an experimenter showed a child how to play a simple rule game. After the child and the experimenter had played for a while, a puppet came (controlled by a 2nd experimenter), asked to join in, and then performed an action that constituted a mistake in the game. In control conditions, the puppet performed the exact same action as in the experimental conditions, but the context was different such that this act did not constitute a mistake. Children's normative responses to the puppet's acts (e.g., protest, critique, or teaching) were scored. Both age groups performed more normative responses in the target than in the control conditions, but the 3-year-olds did so on a more explicit level. These studies demonstrate in a particularly strong way that even very young children have some grasp of the normative structure of conventional activities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Standsicherheitsuntersuchungen sowie Aufschluss- und Abbauplanung der Erweiterung des Steinbruchs Fischbach in Oberbayern der Rohrdorfer Gruppe

This article deals with the extension of the quarry “Fischbach” in Upper Bavaria. In the quarry primarily limestone is mined, which is further transported to Rohrdorf for cement production. For the planned expansion firstly a geotechnical mapping of all benches is made. All benches are divided into segments, then gap data are taken. In addition, rock samples are taken from the mining area and uniaxial compressive tests are carried out. This data is basis of a differentiated geomechanical classification of the benches and slopes. The subsequent rock classification defines the rock strength of individual bench-areas. Furthermore, the slopes are tested on stability in actual condition and after enlargement. This happens on the one hand through a regional breakdown, on the other hand through a local viewing on benches. These stability considerations yield factors of safety and let assume a safe slope height.     

Novel polarization-type moisture meter for determining moisture content of wood above fibre saturation point

Resistance-type wood moisture meters are not reliable at moisture contents above the fibre saturation point. The aim of this study was to develop an alternative polarization-type wood moisture meter and to analyse the different calibration methods of this moisture meter in comparison with the traditional resistance-type wood moisture meter calibration method. A significant decrease (up to 3.5% of moisture content) in the tolerance interval of a single measurement was attained by introducing and integrating the original electrical wood charging number into the calibration model of the novel wood moisture meter with electric polarization effect for a high wood moisture content (MC) above 100%. The tolerance interval convergence was analysed using the traditional method of increasing the number of measurements and averaging the results and was compared to the novel method of compensating for random deviations, as used in this study. To calibrate the wood moisture meter, the wood’s electrical resistance and electrical capacitance timelines during the electrical charging cycle were registered in real time (online) with a preselected measuring speed and saved to the microcomputer memory. When the measurements were completed, the measurement data was processed by the device’s microcomputer. This novel polarization-type moisture meter allows for the moisture content of specific tree species to be predicted by selecting a suitable calibration model from a set of eight. The novel wood moisture meter can be used to monitor wood drying and to determine seasonal variations in the moisture content of growing trees.

     

Developing community-based food security criteria in rural Tanzania

Food security remains a major challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa. The widely acknowledged definition of food security and its four dimensions, availability, access, utilisation and stability, are somewhat abstract in the local context of small-scale farmers. Therefore, more site-specific information on the local food situation is needed to respond to the local food security challenges. Participatory elaboration of these criteria within the rural communities is crucial. The objective of this research was to elaborate community-based criteria in four selected study villages of Tanzania. We present an adapted methodological procedure based on the so-called Framework for Participatory Impact Assessment (FoPIA). Based on a series of farmer workshops, we analysed the local understanding of food security and derived a set of food security criteria. We found that these criteria cover the three dimensions of sustainability (social, economic and environmental), while simultaneously representing the four food security dimensions, showing that rural communities think holistically and consider multiple criteria and dimensions related to food security. Our participatory methodological approach was suitable for identifying the specific development priorities that need to be addressed for improved food security in a particular locality. The locally specific food security criteria can be used for impact assessment, monitoring and evaluation and, finally, for the adaptation of development measures to local contexts.     

Process control of lightly salted wild and farmed Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) by brine injection, brining, and freezing--a low field NMR study

The aim of this study was to use low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and traditional chemical methods to investigate the physical and chemical differences in wild and farmed cod processed pre- and postrigor, and how these properties were affected by brine injection, brining, and freezing. In prerigor processed farmed or wild cod, brine injections followed by brining for 2 d, with brine concentrations up to 5.5% and 4%, respectively, were not sufficient to reach a muscle salt concentration of 2% as aimed for, while wild cod processed postrigor had sufficient salt uptake after the same processing. Low-field NMR gave valuable information about the differences in the muscle structure between wild and farmed cod as well as the state of the water in the muscle during brine injection, brining, and during rigor tension. Low-field NMR is, therefore, a valuable tool that can be used to optimize the salting and storing processes of lightly salted cod products from both wild and farmed cod. For farmed cod to be used in the production of lightly salted products further research is needed. Practical Application: Optimal processing of lightly salted cod products is important to the fish industry, due to an increasing market for this product in southern Europe. Farmed cod, which is seen as a potential steady raw material source for this production, differs considerably from its wild counterparts by having other chemical and physical muscle properties, such as lower water content and lower pH. With the processing procedures used today the farmed cod can, therefore, only be used in some of the products, where wild cod is currently used as raw material. It is, therefore, important that the processing of these products is optimized with regard to these differences in the raw material. This study gives a valuable contribution to further studies about optimal combinations of brine injections, brining, and freezing of pre- and postrigor processed farmed compared to wild cod.