Evaluation of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy for predicting stover quality trait in semi-exotic populations of maize

Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) analysis was investigated as a means of predicting quality parameters in semi-exotic maize stover. These parameters included crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD). Samples of semi-exotic maize stover were collected during three growing seasons (1989, 1990, 1991) from three locations in Catalonia, Spain. Calibration equations were obtained by multiple linear regression of conventional laboratory values on NIRS data from 84 samples and verified with 20 additional samples. Separate NIRS calibration were developed also within year (1989 and 1990, respectively). A Bran + Luebbe InfraAnalyzer model 450 was used for the study. In the multi-year calibration the coefficients of squared multiple correlation (R²) ranged from 0–81 for IVDMD to 0–92 for CP and the standard errors of calibration (SEC) ranged from 0–35 for CP to 1–46 for IVDMD. The study showed that NIRS analysis can be used to evaluate the quality of semi-exotic maize in breeding programmes.     

Validation of scales measuring attitudes, self-efficacy, and intention related to smoking among middle school students.

Attitudes toward smoking, self-efficacy to avoid smoking, and smoking intention, widely cited correlates of youth smoking prevention, are often measured in large-scale youth tobacco surveys. The psychometric properties of these scales have not been well studied among middle school youth. We examined the factorial, discriminate, and convergent validity of these scales among sixth to eighth graders from a convenience sample of 22 Texas middle schools (51.2% female; 51.21% White, 32.1% Hispanic, 16.9% African American, and 8.8% Other; 67.8% nonsmokers, 21.9% experimental smokers; 3.3% former smokers; and 7.6% current smokers). Confirmatory factor analysis and invariance testing suggest that smoking attitudes, self-efficacy, and intention have evidence of construct validity in this multiethnic sample, and the scales are appropriate to assess these constructs among middle school adolescents. Additional studies are needed to establish additional evidence of validity of these constructs in other middle school samples and other subgroups (e.g. current, experimental, and former smokers). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Analysis of the Design-Build Delivery Method in Air Force Construction Projects

The design-build (DB) method for construction project delivery continues to grow in both the private and public sector; additionally, research has shown that the DB method outperforms the design-bid-build (DBB) method. The Air Force has applied the results of these previous research efforts to its military construction (MILCON) program without performing empirical studies to validate the approach. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare the performance of the DB delivery method with the traditional DBB approach for the Air Force MILCON program. Data related to 835 (278 DB and 557 DBB) MILCON projects for fiscal years 1996–2006 were subsequently analyzed. The DB method had better performance in three of six metrics with the performance being significantly better for cost growth and the number of modifications per million dollars. The traditional DBB method performed significantly better in terms of total project time. Furthermore, the DB method was best suited for various facility types. This study provides empirical evidence of how the DB method provides an advantage over the traditional DBB method for Air Force MILCON projects.     

Iterative algorithm for optimal fiducials under weak perspective projection

In previous work, we designed space fiducials with the aim of making camera pose determination as noise‐insensitive as possible. These fiducials turned out to be sets of points that formed concentric regular polyhedra. Here, we apply an idea of Dementhon and Davis and test and analyze an iterative linear algorithm in conjunction with our optimal fiducials to increase the accuracy of the computed camera pose. We also analyze under what circumstances this iterative algorithm is guaranteed to converge to the correct solution. Comprehensive computer simulations illustrate the behavior of the algorithm and the degree of improvement in pose determination in case of convergence. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 19, 27–36, 2009     

Direct numerical inversion method for kinetic ellipsometric data. I. Presentation of the method and numerical evaluation

A direct numerical inversion method for the determination of the refractive index and the thickness of the outermost layer of a thin transparent film on top of a multilayer has been developed. This method is based on a second-order Taylor decomposition of the coefficients of the Abelès matrices of the newly grown layer. The variations of the real-time spectroscopic ellipsometry data are expressed as polynomial fuctions depending on the dielectric constant and the thickness of the newly grown layer. The method is fast, capable of single-wavelength and multiwavelength inversion of continuous as well as discontinuous-index profiles, and can be adapted to many different polarimetric instruments.     

Identifying clinical syndromes in a community sample of elderly persons.

By a strategy suggested by E. H. Uhlenhuth et al (1983), Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III) referenced syndrome classifications were derived on the basis of the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist—42 scores of 1,131 elderly community residents. Overall syndrome prevalence rates were consistent with other epidemiologic data: 3.9% for depression, 1.0% for agoraphobia-panic, 2.6% for other phobia, and 6.9% for anxiety. Prevalence rates reflected expected sex differences and showed an age trend for other phobias. Considerable comorbidity among syndromes was observed. The association of the syndromes with patterns of psychosocial risk factors, prior diagnoses, and medication suggests that some but not all of the identified syndromes reflect clinically relevant classifications. If further developed, syndrome classifications based on self-report scales can provide inexpensive and clinically relevant measures of caseness. Required refinements of this approach are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Computability,complexity and economics

Herbert Simon advocates that economists should study procedureal rationality instead of substantive rationality. One approach for studying procedural rationality is to consider algorithmic representations of procedures, which can then be studied using the concepts of computability and complexity. For some time, game theorists have considered the issue of computability and have employed automata to study bounded rationality. Outside game theory very little research has been performed. Very simple examples of the traditional economic optimization models can require transfinite computations. The impact of procedural rationality on economics depends on the computational resources available to economic agents.