Fractal-wavelet image denoising revisited.

The essence of fractal image denoising is to predict the fractal code of a noiseless image from its noisy observation. From the predicted fractal code, one can generate an estimate of the original image. We show how well fractal-wavelet denoising predicts parent wavelet subtress of the noiseless image. The performance of various fractal-wavelet denoising schemes (e.g., fixed partitioning, quadtree partitioning) is compared to that of some standard wavelet thresholding methods. We also examine the use of cycle spinning in fractal-based image denoising for the purpose enhancing the denoised estimates. Our experimental results show that these fractal-based image denoising methods are quite competitive with standard wavelet thresholding methods for image denoising. Finally, we compare the performance of the pixel- and wavelet-based fractal denoising schemes.     

The role of perspective in the accessibility of goals during reading.

An implicit assumption of several causal reasoning models is that readers adopt the goals of a narrative's protagonist during text comprehension. In apparent violation of this assumption, readers participating in Experiment 1 of the present study drew inferences relevant to a protagonist's goal even when that goal was already satisfied from the perspective of the protagonist. In Experiments 2 and 3, participants were explicitly asked to view the text situation from the point of view of the protagonist. In this case, the goals of the reader and the protagonist should be the same. In these experiments, participants focused on the goals of the protagonist only when those goals had not been satisfied from the perspective of the protagonist. These results are discussed in terms of reader- and character-based perspectives and in terms of text characteristics that cue perspective taking. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Preparation of the international employee: Career and consultation needs.

Studied how 26 senior managers and 47 senior professional technical staff (recently repatriated) of 4 US owned multinational organizations viewed their international posting, specifically with respect to career path satisfaction. Results of satisfaction scales indicate that many Ss felt under-prepared for their international assignment. It is suggested that a comprehensive international employee development program should assess, provide feedback, and coach individuals on career path, culture shock and adjustment, and performance issues prior, during, and on return from the expatriate assignment. Results suggest that opportunities exist for individual and organizational intervention. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Bridging the research traditions of task/ego involvement and intrinsic/extrinsic motivation: Comment on Butler (1987).

In an experiment on the effects of different feedback conditions on motivationally relevant variables, R. Butler (see record 1988-21628-001) tested the hypothesis that the effects of feedback on intrinsic motivation would depend on whether that feedback promotes a task-involving or ego-involving orientation. She interpreted the findings as they relate to J. G. Nicholls's (see record 1984-28719-001) theory of task/ego involvement and our cognitive evaluation theory (E. L. Deci and R. M. Ryan, 1985). Although the data were very interesting, Butler failed to review a series of highly relevant studies, she misportrayed cognitive evaluation theory, and she drew conclusions that were not necessarily warranted given her experimental manipulations and data. This article provides a commentary on that research and presents a discussion of the relation between the two theories that Butler claimed to have tested. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Long-term working memory in the rat: Effects of hippocampally applied anisomycin.

The extent to which protein synthesis is involved in working memory was investigated with the protein synthesis inhibitor anisomycin (ANI). Male albino and Long-Evans rats were trained to perform accurately on a 12-arm radial maze when delays of 240 min were interposed between Choice 6 and Choice 7. Bilateral hippocampal cannulas were then implanted. Accuracy on Choices 7–22 was studied when ANI (80 μg/μl) or saline was injected either 30 min before Choice 1 or 5–20 min after Choice 6 in Exp I. Pretrial injection of ANI significantly impaired performance following the 240-min delay, whereas ANI injected during the delay had no such effect. In Exps II and III, the ANI-induced amnesia was replicated, and the temporal course of development of the amnesia was determined. Pretrial administration of ANI did not significantly affect retention after a 2-min delay but produced amnesia after delays of 15 min or longer. Data suggest that protein synthesis is important for the formation of temporary memories, provided the retention interval is long enough. It is suggested that working memory includes both short- and long-term components. Protein synthesis appears to be important for formation of the long-term component, but not the short-term component, of working memory. (31 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Counseling psychology, clinical psychology, and human services psychology: Where the twain shall meet?

Comments on the proposal by L. H. Levy et al (see record 1984-27507-001) for a new charter for clinical psychology—human services psychology. Current trends suggest that both clinical and counseling psychology are becoming eclectic and health oriented. Clinical psychology appears to be becoming more involved in community psychology and to be tempering its remedial role with the preventive role. Counseling psychology appears to be becoming less involved in its vocational and preventive roles and more involved in the remedial role. It is concluded that clinical and counseling psychology have come to be increasingly similar and could be integrated into a human services psychology. (38 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Results of a User Study on 2D Hurricane Visualization

We present the results from a user study looking at the ability of observers to mentally integrate wind direction and magnitude over a vector field. The data set chosen for the study is an MM5 (PSU/NCAR Mesoscale Model) simulation of Hurricane Lili over the Gulf of Mexico as it approaches the southeastern United States. Nine observers participated in the study. This study investigates the effect of layering on the observer's ability to determine the magnitude and direction of a vector field. We found a tendency for observers to underestimate the magnitude of the vectors and a counter‐clockwise bias when determining the average direction of a vector field. We completed an additional study with two observers to try to uncover the source of the counter‐clockwise bias. These results have direct implications to atmospheric scientists, but may also be able to be applied to other fields that use 2D vector fields.     

Analysis of the Datagram Congestion Control Protocol’s connection management procedures using the sweep-line method

State space explosion is a key problem in the analysis of finite state systems. The sweep-line method is a state exploration method which uses a notion of progress to allow states to be deleted from memory when they are no longer required. This reduces the peak number of states that need to be stored, while still exploring the full state space. The technique shows promise but has never achieved reductions greater than about a factor of 10 in the number of states stored in memory for industrially relevant examples. This paper discusses sweep-line analysis of the connection management procedures of a new Internet standard, the Datagram Congestion Control Protocol (DCCP). As the intuitive approaches to sweep-line analysis are not effective, we introduce new variables to track progress. This creates further state explosion. However, when used with the sweep-line, the peak number of states is reduced by over two orders of magnitude compared with the original. Importantly, this allows DCCP to be analysed for larger parameter values. Somsak Vanit-Anunchai was partially supported by an Australian Research Council Discovery Grant (DP0559927) and Suranaree University of Technology. Guy Edward Gallasch was supported by an Australian Research Council Discovery Grant (DP0559927).     

Mining for trigger events with survival analysis

This paper discusses a new application of data mining, quantifying the importance of responding to trigger events with reactive contacts. Trigger events happen during a customer’s lifecycle and indicate some change in the relationship with the company. If detected early, the company can respond to the problem and retain the customer; otherwise the customer may switch to another company. It is usually easy to identify many potential trigger events. What is needed is a way of prioritizing which events demand interventions. We conceptualize the trigger event problem and show how survival analysis can be used to quantify the importance of addressing various trigger events. The method is illustrated on four real data sets from different industries and countries.