Estimation of the exposure of the French population to the BSE agent: comparison of the 1980-95 consumption of beef products containing mechanically recovered meat in France and the UK,by birth cohort and gender

Assuming that human exposure to BSE was through beef mechanically recovered meat (MRM) consumed as burgers and other meat products, we estimated the French consumption of different food items containing beef MRM, and compared these consumptions for French and British populations. To estimate consumption of meat products containing bovine MRM, we used dietary data from national individual and household food surveys conducted between 1980 and 1995. After reconciliation of consumption data between the available surveys and calendar year adjustments, we simulated consumption of one-thousandth of the French population. Consumption was estimated by birth cohort and gender, and for the periods 1980-89 and 1990-95 separately. Data showed that burgers (including manufactured minced meat) represented around 75-80% of the individual consumption of meat products containing MRM, and that consumption of burgers increased by 40% over the 1980-95 period. In all age groups, consumption was higher in males than in females. In both genders, the 1940-69 birth cohort had the highest mean consumption of burgers and other beef products containing MRM. Similar findings have been reported for the UK population. Estimated consumption of bovine MRM per calendar year increased markedly over the study period, concomitantly with an increase of bovine carcasses imported from the UK. Comparison of the 1980-1995 pattern of bovine MRM consumption in the UK and France indicated thatthis consumption peaked later in France than in the UK. This difference might result in different temporal pattern of vCJD incidence.     

Dynamic demonstration of diffractive optic analog-to-digital converter scheme

Dynamic behavior of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) based on diffractive optical element(s) (DOE)(s) was studied and found to be in agreement with predictions. The analog signal was translated to an angular deflection of a laser beam by means of an acousto-optic (AO) cell. The number of bits in this experimental demonstration was three, using an eight-element DOE array. The maximum sample rate was found to be 2.5 MS/s, the limiting factor being the transit time for the acoustic wave across the width of the laser beam in the AO cell. The study is intended as a first dynamic demonstration of a proposed ADC scheme previously demonstrated in a quasi-static version. The full potential of the ADC scheme will require the use of a fast tunable diode laser to replace the AO deflection scheme used here.     

Efficient entropy estimation based on doubly stochastic models for quantized wavelet image data.

Under a rate constraint, wavelet-based image coding involves strategic discarding of information such that the remaining data can be described with a given amount of rate. In a practical coding system, this task requires knowledge of the relationship between quantization step size and compressed rate for each group of wavelet coefficients, the R-Q curve. A common approach to this problem is to fit each subband with a scalar probability distribution and compute entropy estimates based on the model. This approach is not effective at rates below 1.0 bits-per-pixel because the distributions of quantized data do not reflect the dependencies in coefficient magnitudes. These dependencies can be addressed with doubly stochastic models, which have been previously proposed to characterize more localized behavior, though there are tradeoffs between storage, computation time, and accuracy. Using a doubly stochastic generalized Gaussian model, it is demonstrated that the relationship between step size and rate is accurately described by a low degree polynomial in the logarithm of the step size. Based on this observation, an entropy estimation scheme is presented which offers an excellent tradeoff between speed and accuracy; after a simple data-gathering step, estimates are computed instantaneously by evaluating a single polynomial for each group of wavelet coefficients quantized with the same step size. These estimates are on average within 3% of a desired target rate for several of state-of-the-art coders.     

Processing of short fiber reinforced polypropylene. II: Statistical study of the effects of processing conditions on the impact strength

Within the general objective of analyzing and modeling the processability of polypropylene and of its short fiber composites, a statistical analysis of the relationship between processing conditions and final properties has been performed applying modern experimental design concepts. In order to gather the largest amount of information with a manageable quantity of experiments, Taguchi methods were used for the design of injection molding tests and for the analysis of experimental fiber orientation and impact strength results. Two levels of each variable of interest were selected, and the results of the analysis not only show which of the processing variables are predominant but also show that interactions between variables must be taken into account. The approach presented here offers a viable route to the scaling-up of the injection molding process through the reduction of the number of variables in the prediction of the processing behavior of semicrystalline polymers and of their composites.     

Surface layer impurities on silicon spheres used in determinationof the Avogadro constant

The Avogadro constant is required to be determined with an uncertainty of less than 1×10^-8 in order to allow an atomic definition of the kilogram. A single-crystal silicon sphere 93.6 mm diameter is used for this determination. A thin surface layer (typically 2 nm to 5 nm thick on flats and 10 nm or more on spheres) of contaminants such as oxide, water and hydrocarbons on the sphere can significantly affect the measurements due to corrections for density changes and to phase change on reflection in the diameter measurement by optical interferometry. The stability of this surface layer as a function of time is also of importance because of ongoing measurements. The nature of this contamination has been investigated using optical ellipsometry and ion beam analysis. It is concluded that the composition and structure of the surface layer are affected by a number of parameters and that the most appropriate method of achieving the desired accuracy is to remove the surface layer by etching and to form a hard stable coating of controlled thickness and composition. This coating may be either silicon dioxide or silicon nitride     

Accuracy and bias in the perception of the partner in a close relationship.

Partners in close relationships can be both accurate and biased in their perceptions of each other. Moreover, sometimes a bias can lead to accuracy. The authors describe a paradigm for the simultaneous measurement of accuracy and bias in 2-person relationships. One prevalent bias in close relationships is assumed similarity: Does the person think that his or her partner sees the world as he or she does? In a study of 238 dating and married heterosexual couples, the authors found evidence for both bias and accuracy; the bias effects were considerably stronger, especially when the measure was linked to the relationship. They found little or no evidence for gender differences in accuracy and bias. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)