AI Makes Processing Smarter

For plastics processers, manufacturing parts faster, better, and cheaper is a constant goal. However, accomplishing this across multiple plant sites or even across shift-changes can be challenging. The latest machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) technology is helping change the way processers work.     

Nonproblem drinking outcomes in adolescents treated for alcohol use disorders.

Change to nonproblem drinking was studied in 159 adolescents (70% male) presenting for alcohol use disorders (AUDs) treatment. A community sample (n=148, 47% male) also was assessed. Clinical participants had a current AUD at baseline; 1 year later, 17% remained abstinent, 60% had at least 1 AUD symptom (problem drinkers), and 23% were drinking but had no AUD symptoms (nonproblem drinkers). Drinking among the nonproblem drinkers decreased and was lower than in the problem drinkers. Nonproblem drinkers increased in psychosocial functioning and decreased in the number of illicit drugs used relative to problem drinkers and generally did not differ from the abstainers. The results suggest alternative views of treatment goals, relapse, and treatment outcome in adolescents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Towards a framework for business process re-engineering in small and medium-sized enterprises

Business process re-engineering (BPR) is the vogue, although somewhat discredited, change management method. It is as an information technology (IT)-based and customer-driven approach to organizational change, undertaken to enable superior performance, such as cost reduction, shorter cycle time, higher product quality and increased customer satisfaction. Although the literature on re-engineering principles and prospects is large, there is little empirical research evaluating the success or failure of BPR initiatives. This is especially so in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in which the potential for BPR benefits may differ significantly from that in their larger counterparts. SMEs are the fastest growing segment of most economies and are perceived to be more flexible and adaptable in terms of structure and speed of response than larger organizations. The literature speculates that SMEs have as good a chance of re-engineering successfully as their larger counterparts, although this is untested. Yet, with limited resources, such as IT and BPR expertise, and financial constraints, SMEs may find it difficult to re-engineer. This paper addresses the role of BPR in SMEs and develops a framework to assess its implementation potential. Factors that facilitate and inhibit BPR performance are identified and analysed as the basis for empirical testing. A set of propositions is developed that allows operationalization of the framework. The ultimate goal is to develop a process and tool set to assist SMEs wishing to undertake business process re-engineering.     

A system for articulated tracking incorporating a clothing model

In this paper an approach for motion capture of dressed people is presented. A cloth draping method is incorporated in a silhouette based motion capture system. This leads to a simultaneous estimation of pose, joint angles, cloth draping parameters and wind forces. An error functional is formalized to minimize the involved parameters simultaneously. This allows for reconstruction of the underlying kinematic structure, even though it is covered with fabrics. Finally, a quantitative error analysis is performed. Pose results are compared with results obtained from a commercially available marker based tracking system. The deviations have a magnitude of three degrees which indicates a reasonably stable approach.     

Polyaniline Nanofiber Based Surface Acoustic Wave Gas Sensors—Effect of Nanofiber Diameter on H2 Response

A template-free rapidly mixed reaction was employed to synthesize polyaniline nanofibers using chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) and camphor sulfonic acid (CSA) were used in the synthesis to obtain 30- and 50-nm average diameter polyaniline nanofibers. The nanofibers were deposited onto layered ZnO/64deg YX LiNbO₃ surface-acoustic-wave transducers. The sensors were tested toward hydrogen (H₂) gas while operating at room temperature. The dopant for the polyaniline nanofiber synthesis was found to have a significant effect on the device sensitivity. The sensor response was found to be larger for the 50-nm diameter CSA-doped nanofiber based sensors, while the response and recovery times were faster for the 30-nm diameter HCl-doped nanofibers     

Association between posttreatment gambling behavior and harm in pathological gamblers.

This study investigated the relationship between posttreatment gambling behavior and harm in a sample of treatment-seeking pathological gamblers. One year after initiating treatment, participants (n = 178) completed the Gambling Timeline Followback (D. C. Hodgins & K. Makarchuk, 2003; J. Weinstock, J. P. Whelan, & A. W. Meyers, 2004) and the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS; H. R. Lesieur & S. B. Blume, 1987), both of which assessed gambling behaviors and problems over the prior 6 months. Based upon self-reports of gambling-related problems on the SOGS, participants were classified as problem free (SOGS scores = 0) or symptomatic gamblers (SOGS scores ≥ 1). Receiver operator characteristic curves evaluated classification by gambling behaviors for individuals classified in these 2 groups. Behavioral indicators for problem-free gambling were gambling no more than once per month, gambling for no more than 1.5 hr per month, and spending no more than 1.9% of monthly income on gambling. Alternative behavioral indicators were examined along a continuum of harm (SOGS cut-points of 1-5). These results provide preliminary data regarding intensity of gambling behavior associated with problem-free to probable pathological gambling in gamblers who presented for treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Task control and cognitive abilities of self and spouse in collaboration in middle-aged and older couples.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 22(4) of Psychology and Aging (see record 2007-18670-006). Due to an editing mistake, the order of authorship was incorrect. The correct order is as follows: Berg, Smith, Ko, Beveridge, Story, Henry, Florsheim, Pearce, Uchino, Skinner, & Glazer.] Collaborative problem solving may be used by older couples to optimize cognitive functioning, with some suggestion that older couples exhibit greater collaborative expertise. The study explored age differences in 2 aspects of collaborative expertise: spouses' knowledge of their own and their spouse's cognitive abilities and the ability to fit task control to these cognitive abilities. The participants were 300 middle-aged and older couples who completed a hypothetical errand task. The interactions were coded for control asserted by husbands and wives. Fluid intelligence was assessed, and spouses rated their own and their spouse's cognitive abilities. The results revealed no age differences in couple expertise, either in the ability to predict their own and their spouse's cognitive abilities or in the ability to fit task control to abilities. However, gender differences were found. Women fit task control to their own and their spouse's cognitive abilities; men only fit task control to their spouse's cognitive abilities. For women only, the fit between control and abilities was associated with better performance. The results indicate no age differences in couple expertise but point to gender as a factor in optimal collaboration. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Assessing Walking Limitations in Stroke Survivors: Are Self-Reports and Proxy-Reports Interchangeable?

Objective: To examine the extent to which proxy-report measures adequately assess walking limitations and are interchangeable with self-report measures in stroke survivors. Design and Participants: Self-report, proxy-report, and observed performance measures of walking limitations were compared cross-sectionally on 3 occasions following the discharge from hospital of 101 stroke survivors. Correlations between measures, differences between mean scores, and agreement of self- and proxy reports were analyzed. Results and Conclusions: Self- and proxy-report measures correlated significantly with each other and with observed performance measures; differences between mean scores were not found. Agreement between individual self- and proxy-report pairs was poor, however, indicating that freely substituting proxy-report data for self-report data when self-report data are unavailable is inappropriate. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The efficacy of the generation effect in improving new learning in persons with traumatic brain injury.

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of the generation effect in improving learning and memory abilities in neurologically impaired individuals. The generation effect is the observation that items self-generated by participants are better remembered than items provided by the examiner. Although this effect has shown to be relatively robust in healthy adults, few studies have examined the usefulness of the generation effect in neurological populations. Participants: 18 individuals with moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and 18 healthy adults. Main Outcome Measure: The measure was the generation effect protocol. Results: Results indicated recall and recognition of generated information was significantly higher than that of provided information across testing conditions. However, healthy adults showed greater benefit from the generation effect than did individuals with TBI. As expected, recall and recognition performance diminished over time (i.e., immediate recall, 30 min, 1 week) however, rates of forgetting did not differ between groups. Conclusion: Self-generation significantly improved verbal learning and memory in individuals with TBI. The results of self-generation in improving learning suggest that applying that technique may be beneficial in the cognitive rehabilitation of persons with TBI. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sub-pixel mapping of urban land cover using multiple endmember spectral mixture analysis: Manaus, Brazil

The spatial and spectral variability of urban environments present fundamental challenges to deriving accurate remote sensing products for urban areas. Multiple endmember spectral mixture analysis (MESMA) is a technique that potentially addresses both challenges. MESMA models spectra as the linear sum of spectrally pure endmembers that vary on a per-pixel basis. Spatial variability is addressed by mapping sub-pixel components of land cover as a combination of endmembers. Spectral variability is addressed by allowing the number and type of endmembers to vary from pixel to pixel. This paper presents an application of MESMA to map the physical components of urban land cover for the city of Manaus, Brazil, using Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) imagery.We present a methodology to build a regionally specific spectral library of urban materials based on generalized categories of urban land-cover components: vegetation, impervious surfaces, soil, and water. Using this library, we applied MESMA to generate a total of 1137 two-, three-, and four-endmember models for each pixel; the model with the lowest root-mean-squared (RMS) error and lowest complexity was selected on a per-pixel basis. Almost 97% of the pixels within the image were modeled within the 2.5% RMS error constraint. The modeled fractions were used to generate continuous maps of the per-pixel abundance of each generalized land-cover component. We provide an example to demonstrate that land-cover components have the potential to characterize trajectories of physical landscape change as urban neighborhoods develop through time. Accuracy of land-cover fractions was assessed using high-resolution, geocoded images mosaicked from digital aerial videography. Modeled vegetation and impervious fractions corresponded well with the reference fractions. Modeled soil fractions did not correspond as closely with the reference fractions, in part due to limitations of the reference data. This work demonstrates the potential of moderate-resolution, multispectral imagery to map and monitor the evolution of the physical urban environment.