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Attributes
Kinds of Attributes Terms modified by Attributes Selected AbstractsFLAVOR AND AROMA ATTRIBUTES OF RIESLING WINES PRODUCED BY FREEZE CONCENTRATION AND MICROWAVE VACUUM DEHYDRATIONJOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION, Issue 4 2006C. CLARY ABSTRACT This article describes the production of sweet dessert wines produced using late-harvest freeze concentration, wine produced from fresh grapes frozen using refrigeration and wine produced from grapes partially dried using microwave vacuum dehydration. The objective was to compare the aroma and flavor attributes of the wines to determine the effect of each method of juice concentration. The replicated wine samples were evaluated by 12 experienced judges, and the wines were analyzed using solid-phase microextraction. The microextraction detected 28 compounds; however, levels of concentration of these compounds were below published aroma thresholds. Although all the wines were judged as acceptable sweet dessert wines, the judges detected significant differences. The wine made from the dehydrated grapes exhibited lower fresh fruit aroma, higher fusel oils and oxidation, and flavor notes including citrus/grapefruit and acidity were lower. [source] EFFECT OF YAM VARIETY ON THE PASTING PROPERTIES AND SENSORY ATTRIBUTES OF TRADITIONAL DRY-YAM AND ITS PRODUCTSJOURNAL OF FOOD QUALITY, Issue 3 2008J.M. BABAJIDE ABSTRACT Six varieties of yam were processed into traditional dry-yam slices. The pasting properties and sensory attributes of dry-yam samples, flour and paste from the flour were investigated. Significant differences (P , 0.05) were observed in the pasting properties of flour from different yam varieties. "Ijedo," the commonly used variety, had the highest peak, trough and final viscosities. There was no significant difference in the viscosities of "Efuru" (206.04 rapid viscosity analyzer), "Ise-Osi" (242.75 rapid viscosity unit [RVU]) and "Abuja" (241.25 RVU) varieties. Samples of dry yam made from "Efuru,""Ise-Osi" and "Abuja" yams were not significantly different (P > 0.05) from "Ijedo" in terms of instrumental color measurement, as their degree of brownness (100 , L*) were 21.53, 19.21, 20.87 and 22.42, respectively. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in color, taste and moldability of the paste made from "Efuru,""Ise-Osi,""Ijedo" and "Abuja" yams. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the hardness of dry yams made from "Ise-Osi,""Ijedo" and "Abuja." There were positive correlations between the yam paste moldability, peak, trough and final viscosities for the different yam varieties. "Ise-Osi,""Efuru" and "Abuja" varieties were found to be suitable for dry-yam processing in terms of sensory property and pasting of dry-yam slices and their products, which were not significantly different from those of "Ijedo" variety , the commonly used yam. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The study revealed that dry-yam processors and potential dry-yam processors in Nigeria can use other white yam varieties, such as "Abuja,""Ise-Osi" and "Efuru," apart from "Ijedo" variety , the commonly used yam variety. These yam varieties were also acceptable in terms of the sensory and pasting properties of dry-yam slices and their products. Thus, the general knowledge that white yams are good for dry-yam processing has been scientifically verified. [source] MODEL PREDICTION FOR SENSORY ATTRIBUTES OF NONGLUTEN PASTAJOURNAL OF FOOD QUALITY, Issue 6 2001JEN-CHIEH HUANG ABSTRACT Response surface methodology was used to predict sensory attributes of a nongluten pasta and develop response surface plots to help visualize the optimum region. Optimum regions of xanthan gum, modified starch, and locust bean gum were selected by overlapping the contour plots of sensory properties of nongluten pasta as compared with the control pasta. The formula of nongluten pasta that possessed the most desirable properties was xanthan gum at 40 g, modified starch at 35 g, locust bean gum at 40 g, tapioca starch at 113 g, potato starch at 57 g, corn flour at 250 g, and rice flour at 50 g. The quality of nongluten pasta could be improved by using different levels of nongluten starches and flours, and nonstarch polysaccharides. [source] INVESTIGATION OF ELASTIC INVERSION ATTRIBUTES USING THE EXPANSIBLE CLAY MODEL FOR WATER SATURATIONJOURNAL OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGY, Issue 2 2009J. O. Ugbo Quantitative X-ray diffraction has been used to characterize water saturation levels in complex shaly sand reservoirs (i.e. shaly sands with infrequent carbonates and minor proportions of iron-rich minerals such as pyrite and siderite). The results led to the design of a total expansible clay model for water saturation, which is similar in form to the Dual Water model except that the excess effect of the clay minerals has been accounted for by a volume-conductivity relationship, rather than one of the usual volume-porosity translations, effectively reducing the uncertainties in estimating water saturation. Given the ambiguities associated with predicting these petrophysical properties from data on rock properties, such as mineralogy, an investigation of the relationship of estimated water saturation based on the total expansible clay model to independently determined rock properties was undertaken using well log inversion and forward modelling techniques. The results show that there is consistency in the relationship between water saturation estimates made from the total expansible clay model and known elastic parameters such as primary and shear-wave sonic velocity (Vp, Vs), bulk density (,b) and impedance (I), when the Raymer-Gardner-Hunt model is used. Use of the Raymer-Gardner-Hunt model to reconstruct the required rock-physics relationship avoids the classic limitation of the more advanced Gassman model, which assumes that the dry shear modulus is equivalent to the wet shear modulus (,dry=,wet). The present work raises further questions on the application of the Voigt-Reuss-Hill (VRH) limits, or the Hashin Shtrikman bounds for averaging the effective shear modulus of the dry matrix in complex shaly sand reservoirs, where a two-mineral matrix is normally assumed. The study shows the inapplicability of the VRH or Hashin-Shtrikman averaging techniques but provides a minor adjustment to the averaging that solves the problems faced in reconstructing the relationships between directly measured elastic properties and derived petrophysical properties for this type of reservoir rock. [source] WELL LOG CALIBRATION OF KOHONEN-CLASSIFIED SEISMIC ATTRIBUTES USING BAYESIAN LOGICJOURNAL OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGY, Issue 4 2001M. T. Taner We present a new method for calibrating a classified 3D seismic volume. The classification process employs a Kohonen self-organizing map, a type of unsupervised artificial neural network; the subsequent calibration is performed using one or more suites of well logs. Kohonen self-organizing maps and other unsupervised clustering methods generate classes of data based on the identification of various discriminating features. These methods seek an organization in a dataset and form relational organized clusters. However, these clusters may or may not have any physical analogues in the real world. In order to relate them to the real world, we must develop a calibration method that not only defines the relationship between the clusters and real physical properties, but also provides an estimate of the validity of these relationships. With the development of this relationship, the whole dataset can then be calibrated. The clustering step reduces the multi-dimensional data into logically smaller groups. Each original data point defined by multiple attributes is reduced to a one- or two-dimensional relational group. This establishes some logical clustering and reduces the complexity of the classification problem. Furthermore, calibration should be more successful since it will have to consider less variability in the data. In this paper, we present a simple calibration method that employs Bayesian logic to provide the relationship between cluster centres and the real world. The output will give the most probable calibration between each self-organized map node and wellbore-measured parameters such as lithology, porosity and fluid saturation. The second part of the output comprises the calibration probability. The method is described in detail, and a case study is briefly presented using data acquired in the Orange River Basin, South Africa. The method shows promise as an alternative to current techniques for integrating seismic and log data during reservoir characterization. [source] WORKINGS OF THE MELTING POT: SOCIAL NETWORKS AND THE EVOLUTION OF POPULATION ATTRIBUTES,JOURNAL OF REGIONAL SCIENCE, Issue 2 2007Jan K. Brueckner ABSTRACT This paper links the two nascent economic literatures on social networks and cultural assimilation by investigating the evolution of population attributes in a simple model where agents are influenced by their acquaintances. The main conclusion of the analysis is that attributes converge to a melting-pot equilibrium, where everyone is identical, provided the social network exhibits a sufficient degree of interconnectedness. When the model is extended to allow an expanding acquaintance set, convergence is guaranteed provided a weaker interconnectedness condition is satisfied, and convergence is rapid. If the intensity of interactions with acquaintances becomes endogenous, convergence (when it occurs) is slowed when agents prefer to interact with people like themselves and hastened when interaction with dissimilar agents is preferred. [source] SENSORY ATTRIBUTES OF HADDOCK BALLS AFFECTED BY ADDED FISH PROTEIN ISOLATE AND FROZEN STORAGEJOURNAL OF SENSORY STUDIES, Issue 3 2010GHOLAM REZA SHAVIKLO ABSTRACT Fish protein isolate (FPI) made from haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) cut-offs by the pH-shift process was added to haddock mince to make two groups of fried fish balls. The proportions (%) of mince to isolate were 100:0 (control group), 75:25 and 50:50. All groups were air packed and kept frozen at ,18C. The sample groups were evaluated by sensory evaluation 1 day after processing and after 2, 4 and 8 weeks of storage at ,18C. The results indicated that added FPI to mince and frozen storage affected the odor, flavor, texture and appearance of fish balls significantly, possibly because of chemical and biochemical changes of all groups. This study also revealed that most negative features are attributed to the groups containing 50% mince and 50% isolate. The results can be considered for product development of FPI. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Fish protein isolate from by-products is a new source of fish protein to produce ready-to-eat or value-added products. Little information has been published on product development about fish protein isolate and quality and sensory attributes of such products. Therefore, the results of this study could be useful for applying fish protein isolate to food systems. [source] COMPARISON OF ATTRIBUTE LIKING AND JAR SCALES TO EVALUATE THE ADEQUACY OF SENSORY ATTRIBUTES OF MILK DESSERTSJOURNAL OF SENSORY STUDIES, Issue 5 2009GASTÓN ARES ABSTRACT Just-about-right (JAR) scales and attribute liking questions are usually used to study consumer perception of the sensory characteristics of food products. The aim of the present work was to compare the performance of attribute liking and JAR scales to evaluate consumers' perceived adequacy of flavor and texture of milk puddings. Two groups of consumers were asked to evaluate eight milk desserts using (1) overall liking followed by attribute liking for texture and flavor and (2) overall liking followed by JAR scales for thickness, creaminess, sweetness and vanilla flavor. Overall liking scores were significantly different when JAR scales or attribute liking questions were considered. Texture, flavor and overall liking scores were highly correlated to each other, providing the same information. JAR scales correlated better with the intensity of sensory attributes evaluated by a trained sensory panel, being JAR percentages a reliable tool to study the adequacy of sensory attributes. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Results from the present work showed that consumers might not be able to independently evaluate their liking of different sensory attributes of a product. For this reason, the use of attribute liking questions for studying the adequacy of sensory attributes in complex products would not be recommended. JAR scales were better indicators of the adequacy of sensory attributes. Consumers were able to independently evaluate texture and flavor attributes using JAR scales. However, the influence of JAR scales on overall liking scores should be taken into account when including these scales on consumer studies. [source] INTERRELATIONS AMONG LIKING ATTRIBUTES FOR APPLE PIE: RESEARCH APPROACHES AND PRAGMATIC VIEWPOINTSJOURNAL OF SENSORY STUDIES, Issue 4 2001HOWARD MOSKOWITZ ABSTRACT Liking is a key measure for applied product development. All too often, however, the liking attributes are simply reported, but other than analyzing overall liking ratings no other analysis is done on the ratings. Much more remains for applied product testers to learn from these liking attributes. This paper presents a detailed analysis of the interrelations among different liking attributes for apple pie. It shows that panelists discriminate among samples using different liking scales, but many of these scales correlate with each other creating a great deal of redundancy in the list of attributes. Factor analysis reveals one major dimension for liking of the entire pie, and three dimensions for liking of slices. A different way of analysis shows potentially more utility for developers. A linear model relating overall liking to each attribute liking reveals different slopes, suggesting different importance levels for the attribute liking scales. Furthermore, one can create an integrated liking model. The liking ratings can be combined into a single, overall product model, allowing the researcher to understand how changes in one liking attribute simultaneously affect all other liking attributes. [source] PREDICTING TEXTURE ATTRIBUTES FROM MICROSTRUCTURAL, RHEOLOGICAL AND THERMAL PROPERTIES OF HAZELNUT SPREADSJOURNAL OF TEXTURE STUDIES, Issue 5 2008ROSSELLA DI MONACO ABSTRACT Eight trained assessors evaluated one visual, eight texture and four gustative attributes of 15 commercial spreads. In addition, 100 consumers evaluated the acceptability of the spreads. Rheological behavior of the samples was evaluated in transient (stress,relaxation test) and dynamic (strain and frequency sweep test) shear mode. Thermal measurements were also performed. Finally, the microstructure of the samples was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Partial least squares regression was used to predict acceptability from sensory attributes and texture from instrumental data. Scanning electron micrographs indicated that spreads differed in morphology, size and distribution of hazelnut particles. Overall liking of the spreads was found to be related to hazelnut flavor and texture attributes. Prediction of the most important texture properties from instrumental measurements was quite successful, especially for spreadability which was found negatively related to the consistency and flow indices and, secondly, for meltability which was found to be strongly dependent on measured thermal parameters. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS This study contributes to knowledge development in the research area of acceptability, sensory and instrumental correlation for semi-solid foods. The results confirm that texture properties of spreadable foods play a most important role in consumer acceptability. The research also allows better understanding as to why no single measurement is able to predict all texture attributes adequately and why more appropriate tests need to be developed for an accurate prediction of some sensory attributes as perceived by the human senses. [source] ANALYZING CORRELATIONS BETWEEN STREAM AND WATERSHED ATTRIBUTES,JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 3 2003John Van Sickle ABSTRACT: Bivariate correlation analysis has been widely used to explore relationships between stream and watershed attributes that have all been measured on the same set of watersheds or sampling locations. Researchers routinely test H0: ,= 0 for each correlation in a large table and then go on to discuss only those that are declared "significant." Such test results are inaccurate because no allowance is made for multiple testing, and also because the tests are not mutually independent. This paper reviews the Bonferroni approach to controlling the overall error rate in multiple testing and shows how the approach becomes impractical for large correlation tables. The Hotelling/Williams test is introduced for comparing two dependent correlations that share a variable, and numerical constraints for two such correlations are illustrated. References are also given for testing other hypothesized patterns among dependent correlations, and links to dependent correlation software are provided. The methods are illustrated for watershed and stream variables sampled in 23 small agricultural watersheds of the Willamette Valley, Oregon. [source] LANDSCAPE ATTRIBUTES AS CONTROLS ON GROITHD WATER NITRATE REMOVAL CAPACITY OF RIPARIAN ZONES,JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 6 2001Arthur J. Gold ABSTRACT: Inherent site factors can generate substantial variation in the ground water nitrate removal capacity of riparian zones. This paper examines research in the glaciated Northeast to relate variability in ground water nitrate removal to site attributes depicted in readily available spatial databases, such as SSUIRGO. Linking site-specific studies of riparian ground water nitrate removal to spatial data can help target high-value riparian locations for restoration or protection and improve the modeling of watershed nitrogen flux. Site attributes, such as hydric soil status (soil wetness) and geomorphology, affect the interaction of nitrate-enriched ground water with portions of the soil ecosystem possessing elevated biogeochemical transformation rates (i.e., biologically active zones). At our riparian sites, high ground water nitrate-N removal rates were restricted to hydric soils. Geomorphology provided insights into ground water flowpaths. Riparian sites located on outwash and organic/alluvial deposits have high potential for nitrate-enriched ground water to interact with biologically active zones. In till deposits, ground water nitrate removal capacity may be limited by the high occurrence of surface seeps that markedly reduce the time available for biological transformations to occur within the riparian zone. To fully realize the value of riparian zones for nitrate retention, landscape controls of riparian nitrate removal in different climatic and physiographic regions must be determined and translated into available spatial databases. [source] COLOUR ATTRIBUTES OF MEDIEVAL WINDOW PANES: ELECTRON PARAMAGNETIC RESONANCE AND PROBE MICROANALYSES ON STAINED GLASS WINDOWS FROM PAVIA CARTHUSIAN MONASTERY*ARCHAEOMETRY, Issue 2 2005C. B. AZZONI Stained glass windows from the Carthusian Monastery of Pavia, dating back to the 15th century, were studied by combining two analytical techniques: electron probe micro-analysis (EPMA) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Chemical compositions and oxidation states of the transition ions, present as minor elements, were investigated by EPMA and EPR, respectively, in order to ascertain the role played by chromophorous ions in the glass coloration. The investigated glass can be defined as K,Ca glass, and the panes with red, green and blue colours were produced using flashing techniques. [source] Reliability and Attribute-Based Scoring in Cognitive Diagnostic AssessmentJOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL MEASUREMENT, Issue 3 2009Mark J. Gierl The attribute hierarchy method (AHM) is a psychometric procedure for classifying examinees' test item responses into a set of structured attribute patterns associated with different components from a cognitive model of task performance. Results from an AHM analysis yield information on examinees' cognitive strengths and weaknesses. Hence, the AHM can be used for cognitive diagnostic assessment. The purpose of this study is to introduce and evaluate a new concept for assessing attribute reliability using the ratio of true score variance to observed score variance on items that probe specific cognitive attributes. This reliability procedure is evaluated and illustrated using both simulated data and student response data from a sample of algebra items taken from the March 2005 administration of the SAT. The reliability of diagnostic scores and the implications for practice are also discussed. [source] Attribute-based differentiation of alternativesJOURNAL OF MULTI CRITERIA DECISION ANALYSIS, Issue 6 2002Article first published online: 5 DEC 200, Jeffrey M. Keisler Abstract An intermediate step is introduced to the dialogue decision process for decision analysis. Alternatives are refined after they have been generated within a strategy table but before they are subject to more detailed evaluation. Two or more judges create a subjective mapping from alternatives to attributes that will later be mapped to criteria. In strategy tables, each of the alternative strategies consists of a coherent set of choices made across several decisions that are to be coordinated. These strategic alternatives are modified so as to increase their differentiation in the attribute space, rather than in the decision space alone. When criteria weights are unknown, the best alternative from the modified set may be superior to the best alternative from the original set. Furthermore, analysis of the resulting alternatives may yield a better mapping of the value response surface for the action space, in the sense that this mapping leads to eventual construction of a higher value alternative. Results are reported for a consulting engagement incorporating the proposed step. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Substance, Attribute, and Mode in SpinozaPHILOSOPHY COMPASS (ELECTRONIC), Issue 2 2006Martin Lin Some of Spinoza's most well-known doctrines concern what kinds of beings there are and how they are related to each other. For example, he claims that: (1) there is only one substance; (2) this substance has infinitely many attributes; (3) this substance is God or nature; (4) each of these attributes express the divine essence; and (5) all else is a mode of the one substance. These claims have so astonished many of his readers that some of them have surely concluded that they must not know what Spinoza means by "substance,""attribute," and "mode." In this article I shall try to explain how Spinoza understands the basic ontological categories denoted by these expressions. [source] Biased Reduced Sampling: Detectability of an Attribute and Estimation of PrevalenceQUALITY AND RELIABILITY ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2006Todd Graves Abstract In surveilling a population, detection of systems with an attribute of interest and estimation of the prevalence of the attribute in the population are two main goals. Due to cost constraints, only a subset of all components of sampled systems may be fully tested. Biasing the sampling to increase the probability of choosing a component with an attribute of interest ameliorates the impact of reduced sampling. In this paper, we consider the impact of biased reduced sampling on detection and propose an approach for estimating the prevalence of the attribute in the population which properly accounts for the biasing. The proposed method is illustrated with a simulated example. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Association Between Migraine and Headache Attributed to Stroke: A Case,Control StudyHEADACHE, Issue 10 2008Katiuscia Nardi MD Background., Several studies were carried out to investigate the occurrence of headache attributed to acute stroke in patients with a lifetime history of migraine. Methods., In a case,control series of 96 acute stroke patients with a lifetime history of migraine (M+) and 96 stroke patients without (M,), ischemic stroke patients only, without secondary infarction, were selected. The headache attributed to acute ischemic stroke was then analyzed. Results., (M+) patients complained of headache more often than (M,) patients (P < .0001), mainly in the 24 hours before stroke onset (P < .0001). Migraine-like features of headache were recognized in a greater proportion of cases in the (M+) patient group with ischemic stroke (P < .018). A preferential brainstem location of ischemic stroke in (M+) patients emerged compared with (M,) patients (P = .014). Discussion., The high prevalence of headache attributed to stroke in (M+) patients, in a relevant proportion of cases presenting as a sentinel headache, suggests that cerebral ischemia lowers the threshold for head pain more easily in these "susceptible" patients. The most frequent involvement of the brainstem in (M+) patients with ischemic infarction concurs with recent reports that emphasized a greater headache frequency when cerebral infarctions are localized in this structure or deep brain gray matter. [source] The Anxiolytic Effect of Two Oriental Herbal Drugs in Japan Attributed to Honokiol from Magnolia BarkJOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 11 2000HISASHI KURIBARA An improved elevated plus-maze test in mice revealed that seven daily treatments with two differnt traditional Chinese medicines, known as Kampo medicines in Japan, Hange-koboku-to (composed of extracts of 5 plants) and Saiboku-to (composed of extracts of 10 plants), produced an anxiolytic effect, and the effect was mainly due to the presence of honokiol derived from magnolia. This study was carried out to evaluate the anxiolytic potential of honokiol, Hange-koboku-to and Saiboku-to, which were prescribed with two different magnolia samples: Kara-koboku (Magnoliae officinalis) (KA) or Wa-koboku (Magnoliae obovata) (WA). The doses of test samples were adjusted to ensure a constant dose of honokiol at 0.2 mg kg,1. Although the doses of magnolol (an isomer of honokiol), as well as those of undetermined chemicals, varied among samples, the seven daily treatments with 9 out of 10 test samples produced an anxiolytic effect almost equivalent to that produced by 0.2 mg kg,1 honokiol. The only exception was the sample containing the lowest amount of honokiol. Magnolia-free preparations of Hange-koboku-to or Saiboku-to did not have any anxiolytic effect. These results confirm that honokiol derived from magnolia is the causal chemical of the anxiolytic effect of Hange-koboku-to and Saiboku-to. [source] Optimizing Service Attributes: The Seller's Utility Problem,DECISION SCIENCES, Issue 2 2001Fred F. Easton Abstract Service designers predict market share and sales for their new designs by estimating consumer utilities. The service's technical features (for example, overnight parcel delivery), its price, and the nature of consumer interactions with the service delivery system influence those utilities. Price and the service's technical features are usually quite objective and readily ascertained by the consumer. However, consumer perceptions about their interactions with the service delivery system are usually far more subjective. Furthermore, service designers can only hope to influence those perceptions indirectly through their decisions about nonlinear processes such as employee recruiting, training, and scheduling policies. Like the service's technical features, these process choices affect quality perceptions, market share, revenues, costs, and profits. We propose a heuristic for the NP-hard service design problem that integrates realistic service delivery cost models with conjoint analysis. The resulting seller's utility function links expected profits to the intensity of a service's influential attributes and also reveals an ideal setting or level for each service attribute. In tests with simulated service design problems, our proposed configurations compare quite favorably with the designs suggested by other normative service design heuristics. [source] Beyond Accountability and Average Mathematics Scores: Relating State Education Policy Attributes to Cognitive Achievement DomainsEDUCATIONAL MEASUREMENT: ISSUES AND PRACTICE, Issue 4 2005Laura M. Desimone We found moderate correlations among four policy attributes (consistency, specificity, authority, and power), which suggest that in many states, at least in design, standards-based reform is working as advocates imagined,aligned content standards and assessments established, backed up by detailed guidelines and frameworks, incentivized by rewards and sanctions, and supported with extra resources and programs for struggling students and their teachers. Our findings suggest that specificity and authority may be related to improvements in procedural knowledge, and no change in problem solving or conceptual understanding, while power (accountability) may be associated with a small decrease in all types of learning. We found that disadvantaged students showed gains in procedural knowledge and did not lose ground in either conceptual understanding or problem solving. Implications for developing an improved theory of policy effects on achievement are discussed. [source] Determinants of continuity and change over 10 years in young women's smokingADDICTION, Issue 3 2009Liane McDermott ABSTRACT Aims To examine prospectively continuity and change in smoking behaviour and associated attributes over a 10-year period. Design, setting and participants Participants (initially aged 18,23 years) in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health completed postal questionnaires in 1996, 2000, 2003 and 2006. The analysis sample was 6840 women who participated in all surveys and provided complete smoking data. Measurements Outcome variables were transitions in smoking behaviour between surveys 1 and 2, 2 and 3, 3 and 4 and 1 and 4. Attributes that differentiated continuing smokers from quitters, relapsers from ex-smokers and adopters from never smokers were examined for each survey period. Explanatory variables included previous smoking history, demographic, psychosocial, life-style risk behaviour and life-stage transition factors. Findings Over 10 years, 23% of participants either quit, re-started, adopted or experimented with smoking. Recent illicit drug use and risky or high-risk drinking predicted continued smoking, relapse and smoking adoption. Marriage or being in a committed relationship was associated significantly with quitting, remaining an ex-smoker and not adopting smoking. Living in a rural or remote area and lower educational attainment were associated with continued smoking; moderate and high physical activity levels were associated positively with remaining an ex-smoker. Conclusions Life-style and life-stage factors are significant determinants of young women's smoking behaviour. Future research needs to examine the inter-relationships between tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug use, and to identify the determinants of continued smoking among women living in rural and remote areas. Cessation strategies could examine the role of physical activity in relapse prevention. [source] Predicting Spray Processing Parameters from Required Coating Structural Attributes by Artificial Intelligence,ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 7 2006A.-F. Kanta Predicting processing parameters to manufacture a coating with the required structural attributes is of prime interest to reduce the associate development costs. Such an approach permits, among other advantages, to select the most appropriate scheme among several possible to implement. This paper intends to present such an approach. The specific case of predicting plasma spray process parameters to manufacture a grey alumina (Al2O3 -TiO2, 13% by wt.) coating was considered. [source] The Impact of Public School Attributes on Home Sale Prices in CaliforniaGROWTH AND CHANGE, Issue 3 2000David E. Clark The quality of public schools is often cited as an important attribute which distinguishes a community. Indeed, a recent public opinion poll conducted by the California Public Education Partnership indicates that residents rank improvements in public education higher than such high profile issues as environmental quality and crime reduction. In order to explore the role of educational quality in determining residential property values, a hedonic housing price model is used on a large sample of homes which sold within Fresno County in California over the period 1990-1994. After controlling for a wide range of housing characteristics and neighborhood features, the findings indicate that the school district does significantly influence the real sale price. Then the relative importance of inputs into the production of educational services is investigated as compared to output measures of productivity. These findings suggest that both input and output measures are important. However, elasticity estimates of input measures tend to be higher than those of output measures, with the average class size by far the strongest influence. There is some evidence to suggest that the benefits of additional teachers likely outweigh the costs. Finally, the findings suggest that attributes of schools are more highly valued by local residents than either crime or environmental quality measures within the community. [source] Examining career success of minority and women emergency medical technicians (EMTs): A LEADS projectHUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY, Issue 4 2008Darlene F. Russ-Eft Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are a critical segment in prehospital medical care. This study examined EMT-paramedic career success focused on minorities and women, as part of the Longitudinal Emergency Medical Technician Attributes and Demographics Study (LEADS). The LEADS data come from a representative sampling of EMTs throughout the United States. Analyses examined factors related to objective and subjective career success and did so with samples from 2000 and 2004. Regression results showed that education, experience, and hours worked predicted objective career success. In contrast, satisfaction with others and with supervisor predicted subjective career success. Minority status was not related to either objective or subjective career success, while gender appeared to have a negative influence on objective career success but was unrelated to subjective career success. Implications for HRD practitioners and researchers are discussed. [source] The Role of Job Attributes in Understanding the Public-Private Wage DifferentialINDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, Issue 3 2002Keith A. Bender This study uses a unique data set for Great Britain to investigate the impact of differences in job attributes on the public-private wage differential. The study reveals that (1) there are substantial differences in wage structure between the two sectors, particularly finding that the public-sector wage structure is less sensitive to differences in the attributes of jobs, and (2) differences in job attributes play in a major role in accounting for pay differences across sectors. [source] Symbolic Attributes and Organizational Attractiveness: The moderating effects of applicant personalityINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SELECTION AND ASSESSMENT, Issue 1 2009Bert Schreurs The present study examined the moderating influence of the Big Five personality factors in the relationship between five symbolic, trait-based inferences about organizations (Sincerity, Excitement, Competence, Prestige, and Ruggedness) and organizational attractiveness. Drawing on the similarity-attraction paradigm, six hypotheses were formulated, stating that the relationship between trait-based inferences and organizational attractiveness would be stronger for persons who perceive the organization as similar to them. Results of moderated regression analyses on data from a sample of 245 prospective applicants for the Belgian military revealed two significant two-way interactions, showing that Sincerity was positively related to organizational attractiveness only for individuals high on Conscientiousness, and that the relationship between Excitement and organizational attractiveness is more positive for individuals high on Openness to Experience. Practical implications, strengths and limitations, as well as directions for further research are presented. [source] Assessing the Information Content of Mark-to-Market Accounting with Mixed Attributes: The Case of Cash Flow HedgesJOURNAL OF ACCOUNTING RESEARCH, Issue 2 2007FRANK GIGLER ABSTRACT We examine how outsiders rationally interpret a reported loss on derivatives when the application of mark-to-market accounting to cash flow hedges creates a mixed attribute problem. We find that because of the mixed attribute problem, the information content of mark-to-market accounting is related to the information content of historical cost accounting in a very specific way. This relationship allows us to identify the circumstances under which mark-to-market accounting facilitates and when it detracts from the objective of providing an early warning of potential financial distress. We show that the reporting of an impending derivative loss by a distressed firm can actually lead outsiders to infer that the firm is in a better financial position than what they would have inferred under the silence associated with historical cost accounting. Without the mixed attribute problem, mark-to-market accounting would always yield more accurate assessments of the firm's financial position. [source] Discussion of Assessing the Information Content of Mark-to-Market Accounting with Mixed Attributes: The Case of Cash Flow Hedges and Market Transparency and the Accounting RegimeJOURNAL OF ACCOUNTING RESEARCH, Issue 2 2007HYUN SONG SHIN First page of article [source] Uniformity, Performance and Seed Quality of Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) Seed Crops Grown from Sub-samples of One Seed Lot Obtained after Selection for Physical Seed AttributesJOURNAL OF AGRONOMY AND CROP SCIENCE, Issue 2 2000R. A. Illipronti Jr In a glasshouse experiment it was examined whether narrow grading and selection from a commercial soybean seed lot cultivar ,IAS-5', could improve the uniformity of the seed crop grown from it and thereby enhance yield, quality and uniformity of seeds produced. The classes created were: Control (original seed lot); Size-graded seeds (projected area measured by image analysis 37,46 mm2); Non-cracked seeds; Yellow seeds; Size-graded sound seeds (size-graded, non-cracked, yellow, non-wrinkled, non-etched). Compared to the control, percentage of emergence, survival and number of yielding plants were enhanced in crops from non-cracked, yellow or size-graded sound seeds. Differences in plant numbers did not result in differences in crop yield. The different seed lots also did not differ in crop uniformity: time interval between stages of plant development, plant height 20 days after sowing, yield components, physical or physiological quality attributes of seeds produced, and respective coefficients of variation were similar. Fewer plants survived in crops showing a larger variation in plant height 20 days after sowing, thus reducing differences in initial plant-to-plant variation. Creating more uniform crops by additional grading or selection of commercial seed lots may therefore not be promising. Zusammenfassung In einem Gewächshausexperiment wurde untersucht, ob Sortierung in engen Werten und Selektion aus einer kommerziellen Sojabohnen-Samenprobe (Kultivar IAS-5) die Einheitlichkeit des Bestandes verbessern und damit Ertrag, Qualität und Einheitlichkeit der Samenproduktion verbessern kann. Die berücksichtigten Klassen waren: Kontrolle (originale Samenprobe); nach Gröie eingeteilte Samen (mit Grenzwerten zwischen 37,46 mm2); nicht geplatzte Samen; gelbe Samen, nach Gröie eingeteilte gesunde Samen (nach Gröie eingeteilt, nicht beschädigt, gelb, nicht runzelige, nicht verätzt). Im Vergleich zur Kontrolle waren Auflaufprozentsatz, Überlebensfähigkeit und Anzahl der Ertrag bringenden Pflanzen bei Beständen aus nicht beschädigten, gelben oder nach Gröie eingeteilten nicht beschädigten Samen erhöht. Unterschiede in der Pflanzenzahl führten nicht zu Unterschieden im Bestandesertrag. Die Unterschiedlichen Samengruppen unterschieden sich auch nicht in der Bestandes-Einheitlichkeit: Zeitintervalle zwischen den Stadien der Pflanzenentwicklung, Pflanzenhöhe zwanzig Tage nach der Aussaat, Ertragskomponenten, äuiere oder physiologische Qualitätseigenschaften der produzierten Samen und Variationskoeffizienten waren vergleichbar. Weniger Pflanzen überlebten in Beständen, die eine gröiere Variation in der Pflanzenhöhe zwanzig Tage nach der Aussaat aufwiesen, wodurch eine Reduzierung der Unterschiede in der Ausgangsvariation von Pflanze zu Pflanze eintrat wurde. Die Erzeugung von mehr einheitlichen Beständen durch zusätzliche Gröieneinordnung oder Selektion von kommerziellen Samenproben könnte daher nicht als zweckmäiig betrachtet werden. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||