The reliability of relationship satisfaction: A reliability generalization meta-analysis.

We conducted a reliability-generalization meta-analysis of 7 of the most frequently used measures of relationship satisfaction: the Locke–Wallace Marital Adjustment Test (LWMAT), the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale (KMS), the Quality of Marriage Index, the Relationship Assessment Scale, the Marital Opinion Questionnaire, Karney and Bradbury's (1997) semantic differential scale, and the Couples Satisfaction Index. Six hundred thirty-nine reliability coefficients from 398 articles and 636,806 individuals provided internal consistency reliability estimates for this meta-analysis. We present the average score reliabilities for each measure, characterize the variance in score reliabilities across studies, and consider sample and study characteristics that are predictive of score reliability. Overall, the KMS and the LWMAT appear to be the strongest and weakest measures, respectively, from a reliability perspective. We discuss the importance of considering reliability invariance when making cross-group comparisons and provide recommendations for researchers when electing a measure of relationship satisfaction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Accessible Synthetic Probes for Staining Actin inside Platelets and Megakaryocytes by Employing Lifeact Peptide

Lifeact is a 17‐residue peptide that can be employed in cell microscopy as a probe for F‐actin when fused to fluorescent proteins, but therefore is not suitable for all cell types. We have conjugated fluorescently labelled Lifeact to three different cell‐penetrating systems (a myristoylated carrier (myr), the pH low insertion peptide (pHLIP) and the cationic peptide TAT) as a strategy to deliver Lifeact into cells and developed new tools for actin staining with improved synthetic accessibility and low toxicity, focusing on their suitability in platelets and megakaryocytes. Using confocal microscopy, we characterised the cell distribution of the new hybrids in fixed cells, and found that both myr– and pHLIP–Lifeact conjugates provide efficient actin staining upon cleavage of Lifeact from the carriers, without affecting cell spreading. This new approach could facilitate the design of new tools for actin visualisation.     

Frozen storage of dressed and pre-fried portions of minced sardine muscle

The aim of this work was to study the modifications occurring during frozen storage (–18° C) of dressed and pre-fried portions of minced muscle of the sardine (Sardina pilchardus). Various samples were prepared in order to discover the effect on the samples of different preparatory frying times, the influence of vacuum-packing and the possible alterations in the state of preservation of the portions due to the presence of anti-oxidant agents. The results indicate that the presence of tocopherols did not have the expected effect on rancidity; it reduced the degree of rancidity reached during storage only slightly, while texture with respect to the control sample remained the same. Although the washed-muscle sample presented minimum rancidity values, the tasting panel awarded it the lowest score for acceptability. In contrast, the vacuum-packed sample presented less toughness and rancidity and was considered more acceptable, in the light of which this latter procedure would appear to be the best suited for frozen storage of pre-fried battered sardine portions.

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Tiefgefrierlagerung von panierten und vorgebratenen Portionen aus zerkleinertem Fleisch von Sardinen

Zusammenfassung Die Veränderung von zugerichteten und vorgebratenen Portionen aus zerkleinertem Fleisch von Sardinen (Sardina pilchardus) während der Tiefkühllagerung wurde untersucht. Die Einwirkung unterschiedlicher Vorbratzeiten, der Einfluß der Vakuumverpackung sowie von Antioxydationsmitteln sollte geprüft werden. Es zeigte sich, daß Tocopherole nicht die erwarteten Wirkungen hatten, sondern daß der während der Lagerung erreichte Ranzigkeitsgrad nur geringfügig verringert wurde, während die Konsistenz im Vergleich zur Kontrollprobe gleich blieb. Obwohl der gewaschene Muskel minimale Ranzigkeitswerte aufwies, ergaben die Geschmackproben die niedrigste Punktzahl für Akzeptanz. Im Gegensatz dazu wiesen die vakuumverpackten Proben weniger Härte und Ranzigkeit auf und wurden als annehmbarer betrachtet, weshalb dieses letztere Verfahren für die Tiefkühllagerung von vorgebratenen Sardinenportionen geeigneter erscheint.

     

Organic food

“Organic” or “organically grown” foods are commonly represented as “food grown without pesticides; grown without artificial fertilizers; grown in soil whose humus content is increased by the additions of organic matter; grown in soil whose mineral content is increased with applications of natural mineral fertilizers; which has not been treated with preservatives, hormones, antibiotics, etc.” The substitution of “organic” for “chemical” fertilizers during the growth of plants produces no change in the nutritional or chemical properties of foods. All foods are made of “chemicals.” Traces of pesticides have been reported to be present in about 20 to 30% of both “organic” and conventional foods. These traces are usually within the official tolerance levels. Such levels are set low enough to protect consumers adequately. Indeed, there is no record of a single case of injury to a consumer resulting from the application of pesticides to food crops at permitted levels. There is no method for distinguishing between “organic” and conventional foods. The use of the term “organic” is a promotional device. Prices of “organic” foods tend to be higher than those of their conventional counterparts. A series of controlled tests showed that conventional foods were superior to corresponding “health foods” in terms of odor, color, texture, and flavor.     

Numerical simulation of magnus force control for projectiles configurations

Present paper proposes, through numerical simulations, some optimization possibilities for an innovative concept aimed to control the magnus effect induced by the high spinning velocity of a Secant-Ogive-Cylinder-BoatTail projectile. It appears that with a relatively small contra-spinning surface, the lateral force can be drastically reduced on a wide range of flight conditions. Present computations confirm experiments in supersonics and extend them for high subsonic and transonic regimes for small angles of attack.     

Influence of selected process variables on the elimination of cyanide from cassava

The effects of selected methods of size reduction, holding periods and drying on elimination of cyanide from cassava roots of variety MCol 1684 were investigated. Drying at 50°C eliminated approximately 50% of the total cyanide from mechanically prepared chips, and 25% from manually prepared chips. Mechanical chipping and drying at 50°C eliminated 65% of the total cyanide from small chips and 47% from large chips. Mincing of whole roots completely degraded the glucoside, and rasping and mechanical chipping degraded 70–80% and 30% of the initial glucoside respectively. The results indicate that the method of size reduction and particle size control the rate of glucoside degradation, and that the drying rate limits the quantity of glucosidic cyanide eliminated. The results are compared with those of other researchers.     

匠心筑品牌 梦想创未来 2021国际珠宝首饰流行趋势发布会(中国·广州番禺)

“2021国际珠宝首饰流行趋势发布会(中国·广州番禺)”于2021年11月3日-5日在广州市番禺区万博四海城举行。此次发布会是在国内“双循环”格局的新形势下、在全球新冠病毒疫情的冲击中,中国珠宝玉石首饰行业的一次精彩亮相。作为国家级权威动态的国际、国内珠宝首饰品牌及流行趋势的发布和展示平台,发布会通过一系列线上线下交汇融合的活动,为国内外珠宝企业和设计师提供一个品牌传播、扩大知名度的舞台。     

The planned destruction of Chinatowns in the United States and Canada since c.1900

ABSTRACT

Unlike virtually all other old immigrant enclaves in North American cities, the historic downtown Chinatowns of big cities in the United States and Canada largely survive, though not for lack of plans to destroy them. City Beautiful era plans, development projects, and other public and private interventions displaced or sought to eradicate Chinatowns, from Los Angeles to Victoria to Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia. Urban renewal era projects destroyed large portions of many Chinatowns, and some entirely. This article traces these broad patterns and trends of planned and realized destruction and preservation across 15 of the major cities in twentieth-century Canada and the United States.     

Long-term oxidization and phase transition of InN nanotextures

The long-term (6 months) oxidization of hcp-InN (wurtzite, InN-w) nanostructures (crystalline/amorphous) synthesized on Si [100] substrates is analyzed. The densely packed layers of InN-w nanostructures (5-40 nm) are shown to be oxidized by atmospheric oxygen via the formation of an intermediate amorphous In-Ox-Ny (indium oxynitride) phase to a final bi-phase hcp-InN/bcc-In2O3 nanotexture. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy and selected area electron diffraction are used to identify amorphous In-Ox-Ny oxynitride phase. When the oxidized area exceeds the critical size of 5 nm, the amorphous In-Ox-Ny phase eventually undergoes phase transition via a slow chemical reaction of atomic oxygen with the indium atoms, forming a single bcc In2O3 phase.