Angular spectrum of light transmitted through turbid media: theory and experiment

Measurements of the angular spectrum of light transmitted through turbid slabs with monodispersions of polystyrene spheres have been performed. The results obtained are compared with theoretical calculations, based on the small-angle approximation of the radiative transfer theory. The experimental data and the theoretical results coincide with a high accuracy, which allows us to develop the laser diffraction spectroscopy of optically thick light-scattering layers.     

Prader-Willi syndrome and a bisatellited derivative of chromosome 15

A de nova bistaellited derivative of chromosome 15, inv dup (15) (pter leads to q11 or 12::p11 or q11 or 12 leads to pter), was identified by multiple banding techniques in a patient with Prader-Willi syndrome. A comparison of familial no. 15 short arm polymorphisms indicated that the extra chromosome was the result of a non-sister chromatid exchange between the paternal no. 15 homologs prior to or during meiosis.     

Going Beyond the One-Shot: Spiraling Information Literacy Across Four Years

Many institutions overwhelm the first year seminar with “one-shot” library instruction sessions, which are not necessarily linked to any form of assignment or assessment. So how can librarians maintain information literacy instruction throughout a student's academic career? Data collected by the Rivier University librarians showcases the ability to implement information literacy more effectively by streamlining and leveling it out over a four-year period.     

Identification of real-time diagnostic measures of visual distraction with an automatic eye-tracking system

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to identify eye glance measures that are diagnostic of visual distraction. BACKGROUND: Visual distraction degrades performance, but real-time diagnostic measures have not been identified. METHOD: In a driving simulator, 14 participants responded to a lead vehicle braking at -2 or -2.7 m/s2 periodically while reading a varying number of words (6-15 words every 13 s) on peripheral displays (with diagonal eccentricities of 24 degrees, 43 degrees, and 75 degrees). RESULTS: As the number of words and display eccentricity increased, total glance duration and reaction time increased and driving performance suffered. CONCLUSION: Correlation coefficients between several glance measures and reaction time or performance variables were reliably high, indicating that these glance measures are diagnostic of visual distraction. It is predicted that for every 25% increase in total glance duration, reaction time is increased by 0.39 s and standard deviation of lane position is increased by 0.06 m. APPLICATION: Potential applications of this research include assessing visual distraction in real time, delivering advisories to distracted drivers to reorient their attention to driving, and using distraction information to adapt forward collision and lane departure warning systems to enhance system effectiveness.     

Population size versus runtime of a simple evolutionary algorithm

Evolutionary algorithms (EAs) find numerous applications, and practical knowledge on EAs is immense. In practice, sophisticated population-based EAs employing selection, mutation and crossover are applied. In contrast, theoretical analysis of EAs often concentrates on very simple algorithms such as the (1+1) EA, where the population size equals 1. In this paper, the question is addressed whether the use of a population by itself can be advantageous. A population-based EA that neither makes use of crossover nor any diversity-maintaining operator is investigated on an example function. It is shown that an increase of the population size by a constant factor decreases the expected runtime from exponential to polynomial. Thereby, the best gap known so far is improved from superpolynomial vs. polynomial to exponential vs. polynomial. Moreover, it is proved that the exponential and polynomial runtime bounds occur with a probability exponentially close to one if the population size is a constant (resp., a small polynomial). Finally, a second example function, where only a small population leads to a polynomial runtime, and a hierarchy result on the appropriate population size are presented. The analyses show formally how the population size can lead to different attractors in the search space.     

The work-family interface and job performance: Moderating effects of conscientiousness and perceived organizational support.

Based on conservation of resources (COR) theory, the authors hypothesized that two aspects of the work-family interface--family-to-work conflict (FWC) and family-to-work enrichment (FWE)--are related to job performance. The authors also hypothesized that two variables moderate those relationships--individual differences in conscientiousness and aspects of the work environment in terms of perceived organizational support (POS). Data collected from a matched set of 136 private sector workers and their respective supervisors revealed that high FWC was more strongly related to lower job performance: (1) among high- than low-conscientiousness workers and (2) among workers reporting low rather than high levels of organizational support. However, FWE was unrelated to job performance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Role of Age in the Perceptions of Politics--Job Performance Relationship: A Three-Study Constructive Replication.

This research examined the interaction of organizational politics perceptions and employee age on job performance in 3 studies. On the basis of conservation of resources theory, the authors predicted that perceptions of politics would demonstrate their most detrimental effects on job performance for older workers. Results across the 3 studies provided strong support for the hypothesis that increases in politics perceptions are associated with decreases in job performance for older employees and that perceptions of politics do not affect younger employees' performance. Implications of these results, strengths and limitations, and directions for future research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Fundamentals of molecular formula assignment to ultrahigh resolution mass data of natural organic matter

Ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry via the Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance technique (FT-ICR-MS) allows the identification of thousands of different molecular formulas in natural organic matter and petroleum samples. Molecular formula assignment from mass data is most critical and time-consuming for these samples, and in many cases, several formulas can be determined for the same molecular mass. Therefore, automated procedures are required for an efficient exploitation of the extensive data sets. Here, we revise statements in a recent publication,1 which might result in a misleading impression about our approach of formula assignment in a previous work. We also summarize and categorize existing procedures for formula assignment. In addition, we propose new techniques, which are suitable to be implemented in automated evaluation software. The homologous series approach is extended toward a building block approach that can be applied as a new exclusion criterion for incorrect formula assignments. The examination of stable isotope ratios of individual molecules in natural organic matter can be applied as an additional and intrinsic evaluation for calculated molecular formulas.     

Continuity and Rupture

There is currently a disjoint between the enthusiasm that is expressed for geometry in architecture and the disparate manner in which it is applied spatially. Dennis R Shelden and Andrew J Witt of Gehry Technologies here seek to address this by reconnecting theory and practice with developments in modern mathematics. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.