Discrepancy between predicted and obtained WAIS–R IQ scores discriminates between traumatic brain injury and insufficient effort.

This study examines how well the discrepancy between predicted and obtained Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Revised (WAIS–R) scores discriminate between insufficient effort (IE) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The 27 IE patients performed significantly more poorly on the WAIS–R than the 48 moderate-severe TBI patients. Premorbid IQs were calculated with formulae that use demographics (Barona Index) or demographics and WAIS–R performance (Best-3 and the Oklahoma Premorbid Intelligence Estimation). Predictions were similar on the Barona, but IE patients' predicted IQs were lower than TBIs for measures with a performance component. IE patients demonstrated a greater discrepancy score (i.e., predicted IQ—obtained IQ) than TBIs; variable levels of sensitivity and specificity were obtained when discriminate functions were developed on these scores. The potential advantage of using discrepancy scores versus performance-based measures to detect insufficient effort is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Modeling Asd Optimization of Fluidized Bed and Rotary Dryers

Fluidized bed and rotary dryers are two popular types of dryers utilized in almost every area of dryine. In this study, both dryers are analysed regarding their design and operational performance, so that they could be compared in a straightforward way. The mathematical models describing the convective drying process were evaluated for both types of dryers. Design procedures aiming at the determination of optimum sizing and operational characteristics for each type involved were carried out by appropriately optimizing the total annual cost of each structure for a given production capacity. Both dryer types were compared explicitely by evaluating optimum configurations for a wide range of production capacity values. Once the dryer sizing parameters are defined, its operational performance can be evaluated by comparing the optimum operational cost versus production capacity for predefined optimum designed structures. Rotary dryers turn out to be rather expensive compared to fluidized bed dryers, regarding design. On operational grounds, however, it is the other way around, due to the understandably favored heat transfer achieved in rotarv dryers. Characteristic examples covering a wide range of materials - from food products to inorganic minerals -are included in order to demonstrate the performance of each process as well as the effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

MICROWAVE VACUUM DRYING KINETICS OF SOME FRUITS

Microwave vacuum drying kinetics of three fruits (namely, apple, kiwi and pear) were studied by introducing an one-parameter empirical mass transfer model, involving a characteristic parameter (drying constant), as a function of process variables. The model was tested with data produced in a microwave oven equipped with vacuum apparatus, using non-linear regression analysis. The investigation involved a wide range of microwave power and vacuum pressure levels. The parameters of the model considered were found to be greatly affected by the microwave power level while vacuum pressure affected slightly the process.     

双梯度掺杂漂移机制InP/GaP光二极管

设计了双梯度掺杂漂移机制InP/GaP光二极管,研究了由于晶体不匹配所造成的缺陷以及这些缺陷对器件性能的影响.结果表明InP/GaP光二极管具有很好的光谱响应和抗辐射特性,特别是在短波方向有高于80%的内量子效率.这说明在双梯度掺杂漂移机制结构中使用晶格不匹配的衬底时,外延晶体中所产生的缺陷对器件性能的影响较小,器件在有大量缺陷和复合中心存在的情况下仍然可以具有较好的光电特性,从而为在强辐射带轨道运行的航天器使用太阳电池以及InP/Si器件技术提供了很好的设计依据.     

Determining Who Will Benefit from Visual Interfaces

Visual interfaces are I an emotional issue. The zealous stance of some proponents of visual I interfaces has led to equally zealous attacks on visual interfaces from some of the opponents. This column sorts out the pros and cons of the visual interface and offers some guidelines for determining which environments can best use it.     

EFFECT OF MICROWAVE DRYING ON SOME QUALITY PROPERTIES OF DEHYDRATED PRODUCTS

The effect of microwave and microwave-vacuum drying on some quality properties such as density, porosity, color and viscoelastic behavior of dehydrated apple, banana, carrot and potato was investigated. It is concluded that microwave drying and moreover microwave-vacuum drying tends to increase the product porosity and to prevent the color damages during drying. Microwave drying seems to decrease the maximum stress and maximum strain of dehydrated products, while it increases their elasticity and decreases their viscous nature     

The Role of the Individual – A Key to Learning in Preparedness Organizations

A well functioning societal response to crises is benefited by individuals having adequate skills and knowledge. From a municipal perspective this requires the creation of a learning organization. The objective of this study is to determine whether individual municipal employees, who have the responsibility for preparedness planning, reason and act in ways that promote learning about crises and preparedness issues throughout the municipal organization. Analysis of interviews with preparedness planners in six Swedish municipalities on their strategies for preparedness planning, reveal that preparedness planning too often becomes a demarcated activity, restricted to not more than a handful of individuals. This study indicates that one reason for why the preparedness work becomes demarcated is that individuals central to the preparedness planning are not taking on roles for acting in ways that are required in order for a learning organization to be established.     

Diagnostic validity of the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery—Children's Revision.

Compared the diagnostic validity of the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery—Children's Revision (LNNB—C) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Revised (WISC—R) for 96 8–12 yr olds in 1 of 3 diagnostic groups: neurological, psychiatric, and normal controls. Interrater reliability was demonstrated. Separate stepwise discriminant analyses using 6 variables (subtest scores) selected by each test correctly classified 81% (LNNB—C) and 85% (WISC—R) of the psychiatric and neurological groups. No clear incremental validity for the use of the LNNB—C over the WISC—R was demonstrated. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of long memory in hedging effectiveness

A joint fractionally integrated, error-correction and multivariate GARCH (FIEC-BEKK) approach is applied to investigate hedging effectiveness using daily data 1995-2005. The findings reveal the proxied error-correction term has a long memory component that theoretically should affect hedging effectiveness. When the FIEC model empirical conditions are satisfied, the FIEC-BEKK hedging strategy outperforms the OLS benchmark out of sample in terms of both variance reduction and hedger utility. A bootstrap exercise indicates that the variance reduction is statistically significant.     

Effects of Printed Circuit Board Transmission Lines and Loading on Gate Performance

Experimental measurements were conducted on a typical high-speed logic gate (AS04) driving a similar gate(s) as a load(s) and connected via a printed circuit board transmission line. This simple system was used to investigate waveform characteristics. The results show that rise and fall times are a function of position and are linearly dependent on fanout. The gate and line parameters are estimated from these measurements using both lumped and distributed models of the loads.