Subjective evaluation of the colour of pig muscle. I. Accuracy of subjective measurements of colour

A randomly-selected viewing panel scored the colour of commercially important pig muscles under standard viewing conditions. The variation in scores between different observers for a given muscle was highly significant. Panel members who had previously used this method of subjectively evaluating colour reproduced their scores more accurately than did those members who were using the method for the first time. Training is therefore important before members of a viewing panel are selected. No correlation was found between the degree of red-green colour blindness and the accuracy of observers in duplicating their colour scores. There was no difference in the accuracy of scoring between men and women. The accuracy of individual observers did, however, vary between muscles. A high content of pig intramuscular fat (‘marbling’) appeared to reduce considerably the accuracy of scoring.     

Frequency dependence of phase between synchronised self-pulsatinglaser emission and injected periodic electrical signals

The authors show by experiment and calculation that, for self-pulsating laser diodes synchronised to external electrical signals, a phase shift exists between the applied signal and the laser output. The authors then show that this phase shift depends on the frequency difference between these signals and on the applied signal amplitude     

Ultrastructural differences induced by heat in red and white avian muscles in rigor mortis

A species difference in the intercellular adhesive selectivity of mixtures of embryonic liver cells is reported. This is first quantitative assessment of species differences in the intercellular adhesive properties of embryonic cells. A collecting aggregate assay, a new double-label assay procedure, and histological and autoradiographic procedures were used to elucidate the intercellular adhesive selectivity of developing mammalian and avian liver cells. Evidence is presented that the reported adhesive differences are not due to the different cell types composing the respective embryonic mammalian and avian livers. Finally, such heterolgous-homotypic selectivity of adhesion is not a property of all tissues, since it is shown that developing brain cells (mesencephalon) do not exhibit the avove intercellular adhesive selectivity (mammalian vs. avian). These findings provide further support for the hypothesis that generic identity as well as cell type may play an important part in determining the intercellular adhesive behavior of heterologous-homotypic mixtures of embryonic cells. A possible evolutionary divergence of morphogenetic mechanisms is discussed.     

Effects of restrictions and prices of N,P and K on fertiliser inputs and yield deficits of sugar beet

Although excessive application of fertiliser has been commonplace, optimisation, as well as more limited use, is increasingly topical because of environmental and economic considerations that provide an impetus for either direct or price-induced restriction of fertiliser use. In this context, optimum N, P and K inputs, yields of sugar and yield deficits were calculated for sugar beet for current nutrient prices, multiples of 1.5, 2, 3 and 5 times current prices and for a range from 0% to 150% of the current optimum for each of four soil-fertility index categories. In terms of the optimum input, N was more impervious to price increase than P or K. For example, on low-fertility index 1 soils, reduction of inputs to circa 75% of current optimum required increases of 200% for N, 50% for P and 100% for K. Increases of 20–30%, representative of fertiliser taxes, had little impact. Variation in product price had a greater effect than nutrient price, as indicated by the exponential relationship between their proportional changes for similar effects on the price ratio, and the combined effect of small changes in each was appreciable.All nutrient-price increases induced yield deficits in the order P > K > N. The aggregate financial effect on yield deficit and net nutrient cost, i.e. on gross margin, was in the order N > K > P for very large price increases, with little difference between nutrients for increases of 100% or less. Mean effects of 100% price increases were yield deficits (%) of 0.3 to 0.4 for N, 0.7 to 2.3 for P and 0.4 to 1.3 for K, depending on index category, and reductions in gross margins (%) of 5.1 to 5.4 at index 1 and 0.7 to 1.6 at index 4 depending on the nutrient. Direct input restriction to 75% or 50% of optimum had negligible financial effects, with the exception of the 50% restriction for N. Voluntary restriction of fertiliser inputs for sugar beet, therefore, would be both environmentally and financially efficient compared with price-induced restriction at the level of a fertiliser tax.Since distribution of yield deficits was right-skewed, a two-parameter gamma distribution was used to determine the probability of exceeding deficits of 5% and 3%. Only extreme price increases or input restrictions, or excessive use in the case of N, resulted in deficit frequencies of significant proportions; comparatively, P and K were more sensitive to price increase and N more sensitive to direct restriction. Complete input restriction on high-fertility, index 4, soils breached the acceptable tolerance of deficits >5% for N and K but not for P. For the latter, the results implied a possible conflict between environmental good-practice and the achievement of nutrient reserves required for highest yield.     

Mental animation: Inferring motion from static displays of mechanical systems.

Analyzed reaction time (RT) and eye-fixation data to investigate how people infer the kinematics of simple mechanical systems (pulley systems) from diagrams showing their static configuration. It is proposed that this mental animation process involves decomposing the representation of a pulley system into smaller units corresponding to the machine components and animating these components in a sequence corresponding to the causal sequence of events in the machine's operation. Although it is possible for people to make inferences against the chain of causality in the machine, these inferences are more difficult, and people have a preference for inferences in the direction of causality. The mental animation process reflects both capacity limitations and limitations of mechanical knowledge. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

All-optical synchronisation with frequency division using selfpulsating laser diode

All optical synchronisation with frequency division is demonstrated for the first time using a twin section selfpulsating laser diode. Frequency division ratios of 1:2 and 1:3 are achieved. The range of frequencies over which synchronisation is maintained is also investigated and is found to decrease with increasing division ratio.<>     

Toward an LGBT-informed paradigm for children who break gender norms: Comment on Drummond et al. (2008) and Rieger et al. (2008).

In this commentary, the author reviews methodological and conceptual shortcomings of recent articles by K. D. Drummond, S. J. Bradley, M. Peterson-Badali, and K. J. Zucker (see record 2007-19851-005) as well as G. Rieger, J. A. W. Linsenmeier, L. Gygax, and J. M. Bailey (see record 2007-19851-006), which sought to predict adult sexual identity from childhood gender identity. The author argues that such research needs to incorporate a greater awareness of how stigmatization affects identity processes. Multidimensional models of gender identity that describe variation in children’s responses to pressure to conform to gender norms are particularly useful in this regard (S. K. Egan & D. G. Perry, 2001). Experiments on the interpretation of developmental data are reviewed to evidence how cultural assumptions about sexuality can impact theories of sexual identity development in unintended ways. The author concludes that understanding the development of children presumed most likely to grow up with sexual minority identities requires a consideration of the cultural contexts in which identities develop and in which psychologists theorize. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Electrical characteristics of MOSFETs using low-pressurechemical-vapor-deposited oxide

The electrical characteristics of MOSFETs and MOS capacitors utilizing thin (80-230 Å) low-pressure chemical-vapor-deposited (LPCVD) oxide films deposited at 12 Å/min are presented. MOSFETs using CVD oxides show good electrical characteristics with 70-90% of the surface mobility of conventional MOSFETs. The CVD oxides exhibit the same low leakage current and high breakdown fields as the thermal oxides, and significantly lower trapping and trap generation rates than thermally grown oxides. Interface state densities of ⩽3×10¹⁰ cm^-2 eV^-1 are obtained from CVD devices by using a short annealing in oxygen ambient following the deposition. These results indicate that these LPCVD oxide films may be promising dielectrics for MOS device application     

All-optical clock distribution with synchronous frequency division and multiplication

A master optical clock from a mode locked laser is distributed to two slave twin section lasers. One slave laser divides the optical modulation frequency by 2, the other slave laser multiples the frequency by 2. It is also possible to vary the multiplication-division ratio in a slave laser using only DC control of the absorber of the twin section laser.<>     

In defence of transplants: a case report

This article reviews the transplantation of maxillary canines: indications, contraindications, surgical technique, and success rates. A successful case is illustrated.