Stability of vitamin C in fruits and fruit blends

The levels of the two biologically active forms of vitamin C, ascorbic acid (AA) and dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA), were determined in individual fruits, in fruit blends and in model systems over a 3-h incubation period at room temperature. There was essentially no reduction in the AA content in the orange juice sample and in the model solution of analytical ^l-ascorbic acid. A rapid decrease in the AA content was observed in the banana, apple and guava samples and in blends consisting of orange juice-banana-apple or L -ascorbic acid-banana-apple blends. However, the reduction in AA was concomitant with a quantitative increase in DHAA content.     

Sex-role strain and personality adjustment of China-born students in America: A pilot study.

Since the role of student has been traditionally reserved for the male in Chinese society, hypothesized that China-born, female undergraduates would feel generally alienated from and in defiance of norms of the parent culture. Results on the CPI with 43 male and 43 female China-born undergraduates supported this view, with females scoring lower on Socialization and Good Impression. The Chinese model of the feminine role (reserve, patience, modesty, etc.) was most rejected by the subsample of females on student visas, and most accepted by the naturalized females (including permanent residents), as reflected on the CPI Femininity Scale. Regardless, of sex, natrualized and resident students clearly outranked visa students on important aspects of psychological health. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Accelerating Scientific Discovery Through Computation and Visualization II

This is the second in a series of articles describing a wide variety of projects at NIST that synergistically combine physical science and information science. It describes, through examples, how the Scientific Applications and Visualization Group (SAVG) at NIST has utilized high performance parallel computing, visualization, and machine learning to accelerate research. The examples include scientific collaborations in the following areas: (1) High Precision Energies for few electron atomic systems, (2) Flows of suspensions, (3) X-ray absorption, (4) Molecular dynamics of fluids, (5) Nanostructures, (6) Dendritic growth in alloys, (7) Screen saver science, (8) genetic programming.     

Interfuel substitution possibilities: short-term prospects

This paper applies a translog price possibility frontier in order to measure the extent of interfuel substitution effects in the electric power industry in the United States. The results suggest that relative changes in fuel prices have significant effects on fossil fuel consumption. This, in turn, has important implications for public policy. In particular, the market system appears better able to deal with exogenous shifts in energy supplies than has frequently been assumed in the formulation of public policies with respect to the energy crisis.     

A C version of Fourier-derived affinity spectrum analysis (FASA) to resolve binding heterogeneity

The computer program described in this paper facilitates resolution of binding affinity heterogeneity by transforming binding curve data (bound versus free) into affinity spectra (density versus affinity). The original program, written in FORTRAN, is extended and presented here in the language C. New applications include an ability to transform competition curves into affinity spectra and to evaluate the effects of sampling and experimental error on spectrum analysis. We propose that this program be incorporated in the routine evaluation of binding systems.     

Energy prices,labour productivity and causality: An empirical examination

This paper is directed at examining the impact of changing energy prices on productivity in the USA. By using a cross correlation test for unidirectional causality, it is clearly demonstrated that for the period 1947–1980, the rate of change of productivity was adversely affected by changing energy prices. Furthermore, there is at least a four to five year lag before the entire impact is exhausted.     

The energy crisis and its impact on the stability of the demand for factors of production

This paper addresses the question of the stability of the demand for the factors of production at the aggregate level for United States manufacturing over the period 1947 to 1976. The results are conclusive. The demand for capital and labour has remained virtually constant over the period of investigation whilst the relative importance of the factors affecting the demand for energy has changed in a statistically significant fashion.     

An assessment of the energy tax burden on the Philippine economy

This paper uses an aggregate modelling approach to assess the impacts of a redistribution of the taxes and duties that currently exist on crude oil and refined petroleum products in the Philippine economy. The approach used in the analysis consists of a general equilibrium model composed of fourteen producing sectors, fourteen consuming sectors, three household categories classified by income and a government. The effects of replacing the taxes and duties on crude oil and refined petroleum products with a more broad-based tax on manufacturing and service sectors output on prices and quantities are examined. The results are revealing. For example, the consequences of redistributing the tax burden away from petroleum products to the manufacturing and service sectors of the Philippine economy would be an increase in output by all producing sectors of about 3.5% or about 2.4 hundred billion Philippine pesos, a rise in the consumption of goods and services by about 6.1% or 1.6 hundred billion Philippine pesos, a rise in total utility by 6.9% or 1.9 hundred billion Philippine pesos and virtually no change in tax revenue for the government. When subjected to a sensitivity analysis, the results are reasonably robust with regard to the assumption of the values of the substitution eleasticities. That is, while the model's equilibrium values do vary in response to different assumptions of the values of these elasticities, the fluctutations are not so enormous to suggest that the model is unrealistically sensititve to these parameters.     

Estimating the agricultural demand for electricity in the presence of measurement error in the data

This paper begins by discussing some of the problems frequently encountered in obtaining demand elasticity estimates. To these problems is added that associated with inaccuracy in the measurement of the dependent variable and one or more of the independent variables that impact upon the quantity demanded. Two diagnostics — the regression coefficient bounds and the bias correction factor — are introduced to assess the effect that such a measurement error has on the estimated coefficients of demand relationships. Use of these diagnostics aids in assessing the integrity of the estimates obtained. In considering the demand for electricity for irrigation and the demand for electricity for other (non-irrigation) uses by farmers in the USA, both the quantity demanded and the unit price data available for demand model estimation purposes contain measurement errors. The regression coefficient bounds diagnostic is used to indicate a range over which the true price responsiveness of farmers to changes in energy prices lies. The results suggest that each 1% increase (decrease) in the price of energy will result in between a 0·51 and 0·35% decrease (increase) in the quantity of electricity demanded for irrigation and between a 0·43 and 0·17% decrease (increase) in the quantity of electricity demanded for other uses. The bias correction factor is computed to evaluate the magnitude of the under-estimation of the responsiveness of the quantity of electricity demanded for irrigation and electricity for other uses to a change in the number of acres irrigated and the number of acres planted. For electricity for irrigation, the under-estimation was 14·1% while, for electricity for other uses, it was 13·9%.     

An analysis of the proposed Btu tax on the us economy

This paper examines the impacts of a Btu tax on energy on the United States economy. The analytical approach used in the analysis consisted of a general equilibrium model composed of fourteen producing sectors, fourteen consuming sectors, six household categories classified by income and a government. The effects of imposing a tax on natural gas, coal, and nuclear power of 25.7 cents per million Btu and a tax on refined petroleum products of 59.9 cents per million Btu on prices and quantities are examined. The results are revealing. For example, a Btu tax on energy imposed at the point of production will result in lower output by the producing sectors (by about $122.4 billion), a decrease in the consumption of goods and services (by about $64.6 billion), and a reduction in welfare (by about $66.6 billion). The government would realize an increase in revenue of about $50.5 billion. In the case of the Btu tax being imposed at the point of consumption, there will be lower output by the producing sectors (by about $83.7 billion), a reduction in the consumption of goods and services (by about $48.3 billion), and a reduction in welfare (by about $49.5 billion). The government would realize an increase in revenue of $41.3 billion. Finally, when subjected to a sensitivity analysis, the results are reasonably robust with regard to the assumption of the values of the substitution elasticities.