Exterior letters are not privileged in the early stage of visual word recognition during reading: Comment on Jordan, Thomas, Patching and Scott-Brown (2003).

Potential sources for the discrepancy between the letter position effects in T. R. Jordan, S. M. Thomas, G. R. Patching, and K. C. Scott-Brown's (2003; see record 2003-07955-013) and D. Briihl and A. W. Inhoff s (1995; see record 1995-20036-001) studies are examined. The authors conclude that the lack of control over where useful information is acquired during reading in Jordan et al.'s study, rather than differences in the orthographic consistency and the availability of word shape information, account for the discrepant effect pattern in the 2 studies. The processing of a word during reading begins before it is fixated, when beginning letters occupy a particularly favorable parafoveal location that is independent of word length. Knowledge of parafoveal word length cannot be used to selectively process exterior letters during the initial phase of visual word recognition. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Polarization Effects of GaN and AlGaN: Polarization Bound Charge,Band Bending,and Electronic Surface States

GaN-based devices are currently limited by reliability issues such as gate leakage and current collapse, where the mechanisms responsible for degradation are closely related to the electronic surface state configuration. Therefore, understanding the electronic surface state configuration of GaN-based materials will help improve device performance. Since GaN has an inherent polarization, these materials are also subject to a bound polarization charge, which influences the electronic state configuration. In this study, the surface band bending of N-face GaN, Ga-face GaN, and Ga-face AlGaN was measured with x-ray photoemission spectroscopy after various cleaning steps to investigate the effects of the polarization. Despite the different surface bound charge on these materials, similar band bending was observed regardless of the magnitude or direction of the charge. Specifically, the band bending varied from ?0.1 eV to 0.9 eV on these samples, which supported the models of a Fermi level pinning state at ～0.4 eV to 0.8 eV below the conduction band. Based on available literature, we suggest this pinning state is indirectly evident of a nitrogen vacancy or gallium-dangling bond.     

Signaling when (and when not) to be cautious and self-protective: Impulsive and reflective trust in close relationships.

A dual process model is proposed to explain how automatic evaluative associations to the partner (i.e., impulsive trust) and deliberative expectations of partner caring (i.e., reflective trust) interact to govern self-protection in romantic relationships. Experimental and correlational studies of dating and marital relationships supported the model. Subliminally conditioning more positive evaluative associations to the partner increased confidence in the partner's caring, suggesting that trust has an impulsive basis. Being high on impulsive trust (i.e., more positive evaluative associations to the partner on the Implicit Association Test; Zayas & Shoda, 2005) also reduced the automatic inclination to distance in response to doubts about the partner's trustworthiness. It similarly reduced self-protective behavioral reactions to these reflective trust concerns. The studies further revealed that the effects of impulsive trust depend on working memory capacity: Being high on impulsive trust inoculated against reflective trust concerns for people low on working memory capacity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

A review of predictive policing from the perspective of fairness

Machine Learning has become a popular tool in a variety of applications in criminal justice, including sentencing and policing. Media has brought attention to the possibility of predictive policing systems causing disparate impacts and exacerbating social injustices. However, there is little academic research on the importance of fairness in machine learning applications in policing. Although prior research has shown that machine learning models can handle some tasks efficiently, they are susceptible to replicating systemic bias of previous human decision-makers. While there is much research on fair machine learning in general, there is a need to investigate fair machine learning techniques as they pertain to the predictive policing. Therefore, we evaluate the existing publications in the field of fairness in machine learning and predictive policing to arrive at a set of standards for fair predictive policing. We also review the evaluations of ML applications in the area of criminal justice and potential techniques to improve these technologies going forward. We urge that the growing literature on fairness in ML be brought into conversation with the legal and social science concerns being raised about predictive policing. Lastly, in any area, including predictive policing, the pros and cons of the technology need to be evaluated holistically to determine whether and how the technology should be used in policing.

     

Visual word recognition during reading is followed by subvocal articulation.

Three experiments examined whether the identification of a visual word is followed by its subvocal articulation during reading. An irrelevant spoken word (ISW) that was identical, phonologically similar, or dissimilar to a visual target word was presented when the eyes moved to the target in the course of sentence reading. Sentence reading was further accompanied by either a sequential finger tapping task (Experiment 1) or an articulatory suppression task (Experiment 2). Experiment 1 revealed sound-specific interference from a phonologically similar ISW during posttarget viewing. This interference was absent in Experiment 2, where similar and dissimilar ISWs impeded target and posttarget reading equally. Experiment 3 showed that articulatory suppression left the lexical processing of visual words intact and that it did not diminish the influence of visual word recognition on eye guidance. The presence of sound-specific interference during posttarget reading in Experiment 1 is attributed to deleterious effects of a phonologically similar ISW on the subvocal articulation of a target. Its absence in Experiment 2 is attributed to the suppression of a target’s subvocal articulation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Exploring the luminescence of tin-incorporated nickel-sensitized lithium gallate short-wave-infrared phosphors

A series of Ni²⁺-sensitized LiGa₅O₈ nanocrystals doped with varying amounts of Sn⁴⁺ were synthesized via a high-temperature solid-state method. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were employed to investigate the microstructure of the LiGa₅O₈ host, and optical spectroscopy was used to examine the effects of Sn⁴⁺ addition on the emission spectra and persistent luminescence (PersL) properties, which indicated a homogeneous distribution of the constituent elements in the phosphor. The Sn⁴⁺ incorporation led to an approximately sixfold enhancement of photoluminescence intensity at room temperature and decrease in the energy transition of Ni²⁺(³T₂(³F)→³A₂(³F)), which resulted in ∼65 nm bathochromic shift in the photoluminescence emission maxima. However, the addition of Sn⁴⁺ dopant led to a decrease in the quantum yield of luminescence compared to that of the original phosphor. Temperature-dependent thermoluminescence measurements revealed that doping of LiGa₅O₈ with Sn⁴⁺ interfered with the Ni²⁺ trap centers. Moreover, Ni²⁺-sensitized Sn⁴⁺-doped LiGa₅O₈ nanocrystals exhibited an afterglow effect that persisted for up to 300 s.     

Fish oil fortification of soft goat cheese

Soft goat cheese was fortified with four levels of purified fish oil (0, 60, 80, and 100 g fish oil per 3600 g goat milk) prior to curd formation to deliver high levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) per serving. The cheese was evaluated for proximate composition, EPA+DHA content, oxidative stability, color, pH, and consumer acceptability. The cheese was partially vacuum packed and stored at 2 °C for four weeks. The fat content was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the fortified treatments compared to the control, but was not significantly different among fortified treatments. Likewise, EPA+DHA contents were not significantly different among fortified samples, averaging 127 mg EPA+DHA per 28 g serving. No significant lipid oxidation was detected by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) or hexanal and propanal headspace analyses over the four week refrigerated shelf-life study for any treatments. The fortified cheeses were all liked 'moderately' by consumers (n = 105) for overall acceptability, although the 60 g fortification level did rate significantly higher. The control cheese and the 60 g fortification level had no significant differences in consumer purchase intent. These results demonstrate that fortification levels of up to 127 mg EPA+DHA per serving may be added to soft cheese without negatively affecting shelf-life or consumer purchase intent. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to have strong associations with health and well-being, and fish oil is a rich source of these fatty acids. In this study, goat cheese was successfully fortified to deliver 127 mg omega-3 fatty acids per 28 g serving without affecting shelf life or consumer purchase intent.     

The deterioration in physical function of hemodialysis patients

Introduction: Physical function in people on hemodialysis deteriorates significantly, however quantification of the rate of deterioration has not been well established. The aim of this study was to examine the rate of deterioration in objective physical function among end‐stage kidney disease patients receiving hemodialysis. Methods: One hundred and ninety‐three participants (mean age 67.5 ±13.2 years, 60.6% males) receiving hemodialysis in Australia. Objective physical function was assessed via the 30‐second sit‐to‐stand and eight‐foot timed up‐and‐go at baseline, 12 and 24 weeks. Findings: We found a decrease in the mean number 30‐second sit‐to‐stands performed from 10.0 (IQR, 4.0 to 13.0); 95% CI (8.0, 11.0) to 8.0 (IQR, 0.0 to 11.0); 95% CI (5.5, 9.0) at 12 weeks to 7.0 (IQR, 0.0 to 11.0); 95% CI (5.5, 9.0) at 24 weeks and a significant overall decreased rate (RR = 0.82; 95% CI, 0.80 to 0.85; P < 0.001). There was a decreased performance in the eight‐foot timed up‐and‐go time from 8.9 seconds (95% CI: 8.1 to 9.7) to 9.0 (95% CI: 8.1 to 9.7) after 12 weeks and further increasing to 9.7 (95% CI: 8.7 to 9.6) seconds after 24 weeks, and overall decreased rate (HR = 0.56; 95% CI, 0.39 to 0.80; P = 0.001) between baseline and week 24. Discussion: Physical function significantly decreases on hemodialysis. Exercise programs to address this physical function decline should be included in hemodialysis treatment regimens.     

Discrimination of the hard keratins animal horn and chelonian shell using attenuated total reflection-infrared spectroscopy

The ability to discriminate between objects manufactured from animal horn and chelonian (turtle, tortoise, or terrapin) shell is important from a cultural and archeological perspective such that it may allow conservators to determine the appropriate treatment and long-term care solution. It would also aid curators in identifying and cataloging items manufactured from these materials. Discrimination and classification is also a valuable tool for those involved in tracking the illegal trade in restricted materials of this nature. Attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy, using a single reflection diamond internal reflection element (IRE), coupled with discrimination analysis was used to analyze a total of thirty-nine samples (29 calibration samples, 10 validation samples). A discrimination analysis model was constructed using Mahalanobis distances to classify spectra into one of two classes. The model was then subsequently used to successfully classify all validation samples and correctly identify them as animal horn or chelonian shell based on second-derivative spectra of the amide I and II regions. This technique requires minimal to no sample preparation and may be used to nondestructively identify very small samples successfully without performing detailed secondary structural curve-fitting routines. This model should be a valuable resource to museums, conservators, and wildlife management programs for rapidly and reliably discriminating between animal horn and chelonian shell.     

Oxidative stability and consumer acceptance of fish oil fortified nutrition bars

Oat and soy-based nutrition bars were fortified with 4 levels of fish oil (0, 6, 12, or 18 g per approximately 600 g batch), representing 0%, 20%, 40%, or 60% replacement of canola oil. The commercially available purified fish oil was not emulsified nor encapsulated, and contained tocopherols. Baked nutrition bars were evaluated for proximate composition, water activity, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic (DHA) content, and consumer acceptance using a 9-point hedonic scale. The bars were sealed in opaque bags and stored in a stability chamber at 25 °C and 50% relative humidity for 10 wk to assess oxidative stability. There were no significant (P > 0.05) differences in proximate composition, water activity, or ALA levels among treatments. EPA and DHA levels were significantly (P < 0.05) different among treatments, averaging 178.1 mg/serving (20-FO), 488.3 mg/serving (40-FO), and 664.6 mg/serving (60-FO), but none changed during storage. Headspace hexanal and propanal levels decreased over time but were not significantly different among treatments until week 10. Peroxide values were not significantly different except between the control and 60-FO bars. Low values obtained for these analyses suggest negligible oxidation in the bars. Consumer acceptance scores did not differ significantly between the control and lowest fortification level (20-FO), ranging from 6.4 to 6.6 for aroma, texture, flavor, and overall acceptability. These results suggest that nonemulsified, nonencapsulated fish oil can successfully replace canola oil in intermediate moisture nutrition bars to provide EPA and DHA levels as high as 178 mg/serving without affecting consumer acceptability or oxidative stability. Practical Application: Omega-3 fatty acid rich fish oil has been shown to have numerous health benefits, but there are limitations to its use in shelf-stable food products. In this study, nutrition bars were successfully fortified with nonencapsulated, nonemulsified fish oil to deliver 178 mg EPA and DHA per 35 g serving. The fortified bars were oxidatively stable over 10 wk and acceptable to consumers.