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Various Characteristics (various + characteristic)
Selected AbstractsAdaptable cache service and application to grid cachingCONCURRENCY AND COMPUTATION: PRACTICE & EXPERIENCE, Issue 9 2010Laurent d'Orazio Abstract Caching is an important element to tackle performance issues in largely distributed data management. However, caches are efficient only if they are well configured according to the context of use. As a consequence, they are usually built from scratch. Such an approach appears to be expensive and time consuming in grids where the various characteristics lead to many heterogeneous cache requirements. This paper proposes a framework facilitating the construction of sophisticated and dynamically adaptable caches for heterogeneous applications. Such a framework has enabled the evaluation of several configurations for distributed data querying systems and leads us to propose innovative approaches for semantic and cooperative caching. This paper also reports the results obtained in bioinformatics data management on grids showing the relevance of our proposals. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Prevalence and characteristics of older community residents with mild cognitive declineGERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2002Yoshinori Fujiwara Background:, Cognitive impairment is a major health issue, but epidemiological data on mild cognitive decline have been almost absent in Japan. Methods: Of all residents aged 65 years and over living in Yoita town, Niigata Prefecture, Japan in the year 2000 (n = 1673), 1544 participated in the interview survey held at community halls or at home (92.3% response). They underwent the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for assessment of cognitive function and answered questionnaires comprising socio-demographic, psychological, physical and medical, and social activity items. Higher-level functional capacities were evaluated with the Tokyo Metropolitan Index of Competence (TMIG-Index of Competence). According to subject's age and MMSE score, all subjects were classified into 3 groups: control (MMSE,>,1 SD below age-specific means), mild cognitive decline (MMSE,,,21 and ,,1 SD below age-specific means), and severe cognitive decline (MMSE,,,20), and compared various characteristics among these groups. Results: Mean MMSE score of the subjects showed a linear decline with advancing age. Among the participants, 232 (15.2%) were classified as mild cognitive decline. Compared with the controls, the subjects with mild cognitive decline reported poorer subjective health, more depressive moods, more history of stroke, more prevalence of basic activity of daily living (BADL) disability, and lower higher-level functional capacity, even after controlling for possible confounding factors. They also reported a low level of social activities: both participating in group activities and enjoying hobbies were less frequent. Their food intake pattern tended to be monotonous. Conclusions: Older persons with mild cognitive decline comprised a substantial proportion (15.2%) of the community-dwelling older population. In addition to lower cognitive function, they had lower levels of functional capacity and social activity. [source] The impact of land-cover modification on the June meteorology of China since 1700, simulated using a regional climate modelINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2003H. Wang Abstract A series of simulations was conducted using a regional climate model with a domain covering mainland China. Simulations were conducted for a single June using estimated land cover for 1700, 1750, 1800, 1850, 1900, 1950, 1970 and 1990. The conversion of land cover between these periods was extensive over mainland China, where large areas were altered from natural forests to either grass or crops, or from natural grasslands to crops. These land-cover modifications affect various characteristics of the land surface, which lead to changes in the way available energy and water are partitioned. Over areas where land cover was modified, substantial changes are simulated. The conversion from forests to grasses or crops leads to warming and to reductions in root zone soil moisture and latent heat fluxes. Regionally, the conversion from forest to grasses and crops leads to significant warming over large areas of China, but there is an area of cooling present that is coincident with the main location of a land-use change from short grass to crops. The changes in temperature propagate to about 1500 m above the surface and affect specific humidity throughout this part of the atmosphere. An analysis of daily average results shows a consistent impact of land-cover modification on temperature, latent heat flux and soil moisture. Therefore, we find large and consistent impacts over China resulting from historical land-cover modification that are sufficiently important to the regional-scale climate to warrant inclusion in future modelling efforts. Our results suggest that efforts to attribute warming patterns over China to any particular cause need to take into account the conversion of the land cover that has taken place over China over the last 300 years. Copyright © 2003 Royal Meteorological Society [source] Electrospinning of cellulose-based nanofibersJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 3 2007Audrey Frenot Abstract Cellulose derivatives of carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt (CMC), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), methylcellulose (MC), and enzymatically treated cellulose have been electrospun, and the microstructure of the resulting nanofibers has been analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Before electrospinning, the solutions were characterized by viscometry and surface tension measurements, and the results were correlated with spinnability. Four different CMC derivatives, varying in molecular weight (Mw), degree of substitution (DS), and substitution pattern, have been electrospun in mixtures with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), and nanofibers of various characteristics have formed. The CMC-based nanostructures, i.e., the nonwoven sheet and individual nanofibers, proved to be independent of Mw and DS but largely dependent on the substitution pattern. The nonwoven sheets varied in homogeneity, and beads appeared on the individual fibers. Depending on the chemical nature of the CMC, the extraction of PEO resulted in pure CMC nanostructures of varying appearance, indicating that the distribution of PEO and CMC in the nanofibers also varied. Two different HPMC derivatives, varying in DS, were electrospun into nanofibers. Homogeneous nonwoven sheets based on nanofibers of similar appearance are formed, independent of the substitution content of the HPMC sample. Preliminary fibers were obtained from enzymatically treated cellulose in a solvent system based on lithium chloride dissolved in dimethyl acetamide (LiCl: DMAc). © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 1473,1482, 2007 [source] Testing Features of Graphical DIF: Application of a Regression Correction to Three Nonparametric Statistical TestsJOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL MEASUREMENT, Issue 4 2006Daniel M. Bolt Inspection of differential item functioning (DIF) in translated test items can be informed by graphical comparisons of item response functions (IRFs) across translated forms. Due to the many forms of DIF that can emerge in such analyses, it is important to develop statistical tests that can confirm various characteristics of DIF when present. Traditional nonparametric tests of DIF (Mantel-Haenszel, SIBTEST) are not designed to test for the presence of nonuniform or local DIF, while common probability difference (P-DIF) tests (e.g., SIBTEST) do not optimize power in testing for uniform DIF, and thus may be less useful in the context of graphical DIF analyses. In this article, modifications of three alternative nonparametric statistical tests for DIF, Fisher's ,2test, Cochran's Z test, and Goodman's U test (Marascuilo & Slaughter, 1981), are investigated for these purposes. A simulation study demonstrates the effectiveness of a regression correction procedure in improving the statistical performance of the tests when using an internal test score as the matching criterion. Simulation power and real data analyses demonstrate the unique information provided by these alternative methods compared to SIBTEST and Mantel-Haenszel in confirming various forms of DIF in translated tests. [source] Flow cytometric analysis of neural stem cells in the developing and adult mouse brainJOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH, Issue 6 2002Ayako Murayama Abstract Despite recent progress in the neural stem cell biology, their cellular characteristics have not been described well. We investigated various characteristics of neural stem cells (NSCs) in vivo during CNS development, using FACS to identify the NSCs. We first examined stage-dependent changes in the physical parameters, using forward scatter (FSC) and side scatter (SSC) profiles, of NSCs from the developing striatum, where they appear to be active throughout the life of mammals. NSCs were divided into several fractions according to their FSC/SSC profile. With development, their number decreased in the FSChigh fractions but increased in the FSClow/SSChigh fraction, whereas NSCs were significantly concentrated in the fraction containing the largest cells (about 20 ,m in diameter) at any stage, which were mostly the cells with the highest nestin -enhancer activity. Furthermore, we demonstrated that, at all stages examined, the "side population" (SP), defined as the Hoechst 33342 low/negative fraction, which is known to be a stem cell-enriched population in bone marrow, was also enriched for Notch1-positive immature neural cells (about 60%) from the developing striatum. However, these immature SP cells were not detected in the large-cell fraction, however, but were concentrated instead in the FSClow/mid fractions. FACS analysis showed that SP cells from adults were included to some extent in the CD24low/PNAlow fraction, where NSCs were greatly concentrated. Collectively, the characteristics of NSCs were not uniform and changed developmentally. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] What If Immigrants Had Not Migrated?AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS AND SOCIOLOGY, Issue 2 2005Consequence of Korean Immigration to the United States, Determinants Despite strong theoretical arguments and models about international migration, very few empirical studies rigorously test these arguments and models. The purpose of the present study is to analyze determinants and consequences for international migration, focusing particularly on the returns to post-hoc international migration. The present study compares residential well-being of Korean international migrants in the United States with that of their hypothetical well-being if they had not migrated. Our suggested models of the selectivity corrected returns to various characteristics for immigrants and nonimmigrants enable us to estimate the "opportunity well-being" of individuals and households; that is, the well-being of immigrants-had-they-stayed and of nonimmigrants-if-they-had-immigrated. The data for our analyses are drawn from the 1990 Korea Census Data and the Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS) of the 1990 U.S. Census. In either case of migrants-had-they-stayed or of nonimmigrants-had-they-migrated, international migration to the United States has a significant and positive effect on the probability of homeownership, especially for women. The results show that the predicted probability of homeownership attainment increases as a result of migration by 15 percent to 16 percent for women and by 8 percent for men. The study concludes that migrating to the United States offers better opportunities for homeownership than staying in Korea does, particularly for women. [source] Life with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy: child and parental perspectives and predictors of metabolic controlPEDIATRIC DIABETES, Issue 2 2001Aristides k Maniatis Abstract: Objective:, The purpose of this study was twofold (i): to evaluate metabolic control in patients receiving CSII therapy in a routine pediatric diabetes clinic by describing reasons for initiating therapy and daily management issues, including needle fear; and (ii) to assess the change in parental involvement and anxiety once their child initiated CSII therapy. Research design and methods: The study included 52 subjects (aged 7.6,23.6 yr) from a general pediatric diabetes clinic. Management issues were defined as diet, exercise, home blood glucose monitoring (HBGM) frequency, and self/staff assessment of needle fear. Characteristics were analyzed both according to a 0.5% change in HbA1c status (decreased vs. stable vs. increased) compared with pre-CSII therapy, and final HbA1c achieved (, 8.1 vs. > 8.1%). Results: The primary recommendation source for CSII use was most often the physician/diabetes team (48.1%), followed by a combination of the former with a personal referral source (32.7%). The most common reason (71.2%) for CSII initiation was a combination of wanting to achieve better metabolic control, dislike of insulin injections, and/or increased flexibility in daily living. Over one-quarter (26.9%) of subjects were identified as being needle-fearful, and this characteristic was predictive of final metabolic control (3/25 subjects ,,8.1% vs. 11/27 subjects >,8.1%, p =,0.03). On CSII therapy, dietary carbohydrate consistency was highly variable, and most subjects (65.3%) exclusively used an insulin to carbohydrate ratio for insulin bolus dosage calculation. The most common adjustment strategy (63.5%) for exercise was a combination of decreasing the insulin basal rate, disconnecting the pump, and/or eating extra carbohydrates. For the total cohort, the frequency of HBGM significantly increased on CSII therapy (4.31,4.85 tests/day, p =,0.02). Females did not have a significant change in HBGM frequency, while the youngest subjects had the highest HBGM frequency. Parental involvement and anxiety primarily stayed the same or decreased, regardless of the child's age (, 18 vs. > 18 yr) or metabolic control. Conclusions:, Analyses of the various characteristics identified only needle fearfulness as being predictive of poor metabolic control. Interestingly, poor control with CSII therapy did not result in a significant increase in parental involvement and/or anxiety. [source] Evaluation of a Non-Targeted "Omic" Approach in the Safety Assessment of Genetically Modified PlantsPLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 5 2006S. B. Metzdorff Abstract: Genetically modified plants must be approved before release in the European Union, and the approval is generally based upon a comparison of various characteristics between the transgenic plant and a conventional counterpart. As a case study, focusing on safety assessment of genetically modified plants, we here report the development and characterisation of six independently transformed Arabidopsis thaliana lines modified in the flavonoid biosynthesis. Analyses of integration events and comparative analysis for characterisation of the intended effects were performed by PCR, quantitative Real-time PCR, and High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Analysis by cDNA microarray was used as a non-targeted approach for the identification of potential unintended effects caused by the transformation. The results revealed that, although the transgenic lines possessed different types of integration events, no unintended effects were identified. However, we found that the majority of genes showing differential expression were identified as stress-related genes and that environmental conditions had a large impact on the expression of several genes, proteins, and metabolites. We suggest that the microarray approach has the potential to become a useful tool for screening of unintended effects, but state that it is crucial to have substantial information on the natural variation in traditional crops in order to be able to interpret "omics" data correctly within the framework of food safety assessment strategies of novel plant varieties, including genetically modified plant varieties. [source] Evaluation of Adhesion and Wear Resistance of DLC Films Deposited by Various MethodsPLASMA PROCESSES AND POLYMERS, Issue 6-7 2009Takahiro Horiuchi Abstract Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings are currently being used in a wide variety of industrial fields because of their outstanding properties, such as high hardness and low friction coefficient, among others. DLC coatings have various characteristics depending on the deposition method used. However, they have a problem regarding adhesion with the base material, which is a major factor hindering their expanded application in other fields. The adhesion of DLC coatings is generally evaluated using Rockwell indentation tests and scratch tests. These test methods induce damage in the specimen with the application of a single load. Accordingly, there is a problem of low correlation between such test results and evaluations of the adhesion of coatings on actual components that undergo repeated sliding cycles. With the aim of resolving that problem, this study evaluated the damage condition of three types of DLC coatings having different physical properties using newly devised cyclic sliding test methods involving the application of a continuously increasing load. The evaluation results obtained with these new methods differed from the results of Rockwell tests and scratch tests. These new test methods are more able to reproduce the damage done to DLC coatings in actual sliding cycles. This paper describes the test procedures and the evaluation results obtained. [source] The effects of informative and non-informative price patterns on consumer price judgmentsPSYCHOLOGY & MARKETING, Issue 6 2006Shai Danziger Converging evidence from laboratory experiments and empirical models of scanner data suggests that product price evaluations are often based on a comparison to an internal reference price. Research indicates that the reference price may reflect various characteristics of previously encountered prices including the mean, the range, and the last price encountered. In this research, the authors test whether, for prices purportedly sampled over time, the reference price reflects temporal patterns of the price sequence (ascending and descending prices). In four studies, participants viewed prices purportedly sampled at one time point or at multiple time points and then evaluated a target price. Price distributions differed only in their temporal pattern, whereas the mean, the range, and in some conditions, the last price, were held constant. The results reveal that the price pattern does not affect price judgments when prices are purportedly sampled at one time point. However, for ascending and descending price sequences purportedly sampled over time, the price pattern affects price judgments. Based on these findings the authors propose that consumers flexibly select the internal reference price used for price evaluations. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Glass Ceiling or Sticky Floor?THE ECONOMIC RECORD, Issue 259 2006Exploring the Australian Gender Pay Gap Using the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey, this paper analyses the gender wage gaps across the wage distribution in both the public and private sectors in Australia. Quantile regression techniques are used to control for various characteristics at different points of the wage distributions. Counterfactual decomposition analysis, adjusted for the quantile regression framework, is used to examine if the gap is attributed to gender differences in characteristics, or to the differing returns between genders. The main finding is that a strong glass ceiling effect is detected only in the private sector. A second finding is that the acceleration in the gender gap across the distribution does not vanish even after account is taken of an extensive set of statistical controls. This suggests that the observed wage gap is a result of differences in returns to genders. By focusing only on the mean gender wage gap, substantial variations of the gap will be hidden. [source] Young Romans: ,Fully, Not Partially Controlled'ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, Issue 3 2007Valerio Paolo Mosco Abstract RM008 is a loose grouping of eight young practices in Rome, encompassing: Centola & Associati, De Logu Associati, Giammetta & Giammetta Architettura, King Roselli Architetti, n!Studio, Nemesi Studio, t-studio and Labics. Valerio Paolo Mosco describes the various characteristics of this disparate but savvy group of young offices that have conjoined in a bid for greater visibility and publicity. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Effect of fire on benthic algal assemblage structure and recolonization in intermittent streamsAUSTRAL ECOLOGY, Issue 6 2006AMANDA L. COWELL Abstract: Dry biofilm on rocks and other substrata forms an important drought refuge for benthic algae in intermittent streams following the cessation of flow. This dry biofilm is potentially susceptible to disturbance from bushfires, including direct burning and/or scorching and damage from radiant heat, particularly when streams are dry. Therefore, damage to dry biofilms by fire has the potential to influence algal recolonization and assemblage structure in intermittent streams following commencement of flow. The influence of fire on benthic algal assemblages and recolonization was examined in intermittent streams of the Grampians National Park, Victoria, Australia, using a field survey and manipulative field experiment. The field survey compared assemblages in two intermittent streams within a recently burnt area (within 5 months of the fire) with two intermittent streams within an unburnt area. The two burnt streams were still flowing during the fire so most biofilms were not likely to be directly exposed to flames. Considerable site-to-site and stream-to-stream variation was detected during the field survey, which may have obscured potential differences attributable to indirect effects of the fire. The manipulative field experiment occurred in two intermittent streams and consisted of five treatments chosen to replicate various characteristics of bushfires that may influence dry biofilms: dry biofilm exposed directly to fire; dry biofilm exposed to radiant heat; dry biofilm exposed to ash; and two procedural controls. After exposure to the different treatments, rocks were replaced in the streams and algae were sampled 7 days after flow commenced. Differences occurred across treatments, but treatment differences were inconsistent across the two streams. For example, direct exposure to fire reduced the abundance of recolonizing algae and altered assemblage structure in both streams, while radiant heat had an effect on assemblage structure in one stream only. The manipulative field experiment is likely to have represented the intensity of a small bushfire only. Nonetheless, significant differences across treatments were detected, so these experimental results suggest that fire can damage dry biofilms, and hence, influence algal recolonization and assemblage structure in intermittent streams. [source] In silico genome-scale metabolic analysis of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 for polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesis, degradation of aromatics and anaerobic survivalBIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL, Issue 7 2010Seung Bum Sohn Abstract Genome-scale metabolic models have been appearing with increasing frequency and have been employed in a wide range of biotechnological applications as well as in biological studies. With the metabolic model as a platform, engineering strategies have become more systematic and focused, unlike the random shotgun approach used in the past. Here we present the genome-scale metabolic model of the versatile Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas putida, which has gained widespread interest for various biotechnological applications. With the construction of the genome-scale metabolic model of P. putida KT2440, PpuMBEL1071, we investigated various characteristics of P. putida, such as its capacity for synthesizing polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) and degrading aromatics. Although P. putida has been characterized as a strict aerobic bacterium, the physiological characteristics required to achieve anaerobic survival were investigated. Through analysis of PpuMBEL1071, extended survival of P. putida under anaerobic stress was achieved by introducing the ackA gene from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. [source] On the Performance of Airlines and Airplane Manufacturers Following Aviation DisastersCANADIAN JOURNAL OF ADMINISTRATIVE SCIENCES, Issue 1 2005Thomas John Walker Our study examines the impact of aviation disasters on the short- and long-term performance of airlines and airplane manufacturers. We employ a sample of 138 aviation disasters involving airplanes operated by publicly traded U.S. carriers between July 1962 and December 2003. We use event study methodology to measure the abnormal performance of airlines and airplane manufacturers to these disasters. In addition, we employ a series of univariate tests and regression analysis to determine the factors that drive the abnormal returns for the firms in our sample. We observe that airlines experience an average stock price drop of 2.8% within one trading day after the corresponding news announcement, while airplane manufacturers experience a stock price drop of only 0.8% during that time period. The magnitude of the initial price decline appears to be driven by various characteristics of both the firm and the accident itself. We observe that airlines' abnormal performance is negatively related to firm size and the number of fatalities resulting from the accident. In addition, we observe that disasters that occurred in the U.S. and disasters caused by criminal activity (in particular the 9/11 terrorist attacks) cause significantly larger stock price drops in the days following the event. Similar dependencies can be observed for airplane manufacturers. Résumé La présente étude examine l'incidence des catastrophes aériennes sur la performance à court et à long terme des compagnies aériennes et des constructeurs d'avions. Elle se sert d'un échantillon de 138 catastrophes aériennes survenues entre juillet 1962 et décembre 2003, impliquant des appareils exploités par des transporteurs aériens des États-Unis, cotés en bourse. La méthodologie de l'étude de cas est utilisée pour mesurer la performance anormale des lignes aériennes et des constructeurs d'avions, à la suite de catastrophes aériennes. L'étude essaie de déterminer les facteurs qui régissent la performance anormale des entreprises à partir d'une série de tests à une variable et de l'analyse de régression. Elle montre que le cours des actions des lignes aériennes fléchit en moyenne de 2,8% en une journée de bourse après l'annonce d'une catastrophe, tandis que le cours des actions des constructeurs d'avions n'enregistre qu'une baisse de 0,8% durant la même période. L'ampleur du déclin initial des cours semble être déterminée par diverses caractéristiques de l'entreprise ainsi que par l'accident même. La performance anormale des lignes aériennes est en relation négative avec la taille de l'entreprise et le nombre de décès résultant de l'accident. En outre, les catastrophes survenues aux États-Unis (ou dans son espace aérien) et les catastrophes résultant d'actes criminels (en particulier les attaques terroristes du 11 septembre) ont provoqué des chutes des cours beaucoup plus marquées dans les jours suivant l'événement. Les interdépendances relevées touchent également les constructeurs d'avions. [source] Overweight/obesity and factors associated with body mass index during adolescence: the VYRONAS studyACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 3 2009Constantinos Mihas Abstract Aim: To describe overweight and obese adolescents and to determine any correlations between an adolescent's body mass index (BMI) with personal (age, gender), lifestyle (sedentary/sport activities, smoking status) and parental (smoking status, BMI, number of cars) characteristics. Methods: Cross-sectional data on weight, height and various characteristics from 2008 Greek adolescents (12- to 17-year olds, 50.85% boys), measured in 2005,2007, were used. Results: Almost 1 in 5 (19.2%) boys and 1 in 7 (13.2%) girls 12,17 years of age were overweight while 4.4% of the boys and 1.7% of the girls were obese. The adolescents' age, mother's smoking status, father's and mother's BMI predicted boys' and girls' BMI (b = 0.551, 0.203, 0.110, 0.495 for boys, b = 0.233, 0.187, 0.180, 0.531 for girls, respectively, p , 0.05). Univariate analysis revealed that television watching/using personal computer/playing video games and playtime were not correlated with BMI, while an inverse association of exercising for , 5 h/week and BMI was found in both boys and girls (b =,1.098, ,0.528, p = 0.005, 0.004 respectively). Conclusion: The results of our study underline the high prevalence of obesity during adolescence in Greece. Age and parental unhealthy behaviour (increased BMI and maternal smoking status) were positive predictors of increased BMI of adolescents in both genders. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||