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High Correlation Coefficient (high + correlation_coefficient)
Selected AbstractsCharacterization of Biogenic Amines and Factors Influencing Their Formation in Traditional Chinese SausagesJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 6 2010Shiling Lu Abstract:, Biogenic amines in 42 traditional Chinese sausage samples obtained from different regions were determined by HPLC. The result showed that cadaverine was the major amine, followed by tyramine and putrescine. A total of 4 groups of samples were identified on the basis of total amines by cluster analysis. Group A included samples showing low amine contents (76.5 to 220 mg/kg) and accounted for 28.5% of the sausages examined. Group B included samples with moderate amine contents (220 to 600 mg/kg) and accounted for 45.2%. Group C included 11.9% of the samples showing high total biogenic amines contents (600 to 1000 mg/kg) and group D contained 14.28% of the samples showing very high levels of biogenic amines (higher than 1000 mg/kg). High correlation coefficients were found between the total counts of,Enterobacteria,and concentrations of total biogenic amines (r,= 0.73). Sanitary quality of raw materials and the specific flora are import factors influencing biogenic amines formation in traditional Chinese sausages. Practical Application: Biogenic amines are considered potentially harmful substances to human health worldwide and are usually found in fermented sausage.Traditional Chinese sausage is one form of spontaneously fermented sausage and manufactured in small-scale plants following spontaneous fermentation. Little information, however, exists on the traditional Chinese sausage. [source] Early oral behaviour in preterm infants during breastfeeding: an electromyographic studyACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 6 2001K Hedberg Nyqvist The objectives were to increase the understanding of the characteristics of oral behaviour during breastfeeding in preterm infants and to validate direct observations of infant sucking. Twenty-six infants were investigated once by simultaneous observation and surface electromyography (EMG) at 32.1,37.1 postmenstrual weeks. The orbicularis oris muscle was used for data analysis, as it provided the most distinct registrations. High correlation coefficients were observed with respect to classifications of EMG data by two raters on the number of sucks per burst (r= 0.97) and duration of sucking bursts (r= 0.99). The agreement between direct observations of sucking and EMG data was high. The median for mean number of sucks per burst was 8 (range 2,33) and for longest burst 28 (5,96) sucks. Sucks with low and very high intensity constituted a median of 14 (1,94)% and 25 (0,87)% of all sucks. The range in mean sucking frequency was 1.0,1.8 sucks s- 1. Suck duration ranged from 0.6 to 1.1 s. There was a considerable variation between infants in the extent of mouthing. No association with maturational level appeared for any of the components in oral behaviour. Conclusion: EMG data provided evidence of early sucking competence in preterm infants during breastfeeding, with wide individual variations. Surface EMG and direct observation are recommended as valid methods in the evaluation of breastfeeding behaviour in preterm infants. [source] Evaluation of statistical methods for left-censored environmental data with nonuniform detection limitsENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 9 2006Parikhit Sinha Abstract Monte Carlo simulations were used to evaluate statistical methods for estimating 95% upper confidence limits of mean constituent concentrations for left-censored data with nonuniform detection limits. Two primary scenarios were evaluated: data sets with 15 to 50% nondetected samples and data sets with 51 to 80% nondetected samples. Sample size and the percentage of nondetected samples were allowed to vary randomly to generate a variety of left-censored data sets. All statistical methods were evaluated for efficacy by comparing the 95% upper confidence limits for the left-censored data with the 95% upper confidence limits for the noncensored data and by determining percent coverage of the true mean (,). For data sets with 15 to 50% nondetected samples, the trimmed mean, Winsorization, Aitchison's, and log-probit regression methods were evaluated. The log-probit regression was the only method that yielded sufficient coverage (99,100%) of ,, as well as a high correlation coefficient (r2 = 0.99) and small average percent residuals (, 0.1%) between upper confidence limits for censored versus noncensored data sets. For data sets with 51 to 80% nondetected samples, a bounding method was effective (r2 = 0.96,0.99, average residual = ,5% to ,7%, 95-98% coverage of ,), except when applied to distributions with low coefficients of variation (standard deviation/, < 0.5). Thus, the following recommendations are supported by this research: data sets with 15 to 50% nondetected samples,log-probit regression method and use of Chebyshev theorem to estimate 95% upper confidence limits; data sets with 51 to 80% nondetected samples, bounding method and use of Chebyshev theorem to estimate 95% upper confidence limits. [source] Modelling of air drying of fresh and blanched sweet potato slicesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 2 2010Kolawole O. Falade Summary Effects of blanching, drying temperatures (50,80 °C) and thickness (5, 10 and 15 mm) on drying characteristics of sweet potato slices were investigated. Lewis, Henderson and Pabis, Modified Page and Page models were tested with the drying patterns. Page and Modified Page models best described the drying curves. Moisture ratio vs. drying time profiles of the models showed high correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.9864,0.9967), and low root mean squared error (RMSE = 0.0018,0.0130) and chi-squared (,2 = 3.446 × 10,6,1.03 × 10,2). Drying of sweet potato was predominantly in the falling rate period. The temperature dependence of the diffusion coefficient (Deff) was described by Arrhenius relationship. Deff increased with increasing thickness and air temperature. Deff of fresh and blanched sweet potato slices varied between 6.36 × 10,11,1.78 × 10,9 and 1.25 × 10,10,9.75 × 10,9 m2 s,1, respectively. Activation energy for moisture diffusion of the slices ranged between 11.1 and 30.4 kJ mol,1. [source] Detection of Sublethal Thermal Injury in Salmonella enterica Serotype Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes Using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy (4000 to 600 cm,1)JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 2 2008H.M. Al-Qadiri ABSTRACT:, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy (4000 to 600 cm,1) was utilized to detect sublethally heat-injured microorganisms: Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium ATCC 14028, a Gram-negative bacterium, and Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 19113, a Gram-positive bacterium. A range of heat treatments (N= 2) at 60 °C were evaluated: 0D (control), 2D, 4D, 6D, and 8D using a D60 °C (S. enterica serotype Typhimurium ATCC 14028 = 0.30 min, L. monocytogenes ATCC 19113 = 0.43 min). The mechanism of cell injury appeared to be different for Gram-negative and Gram-positive microbes as observed from differences in the 2nd derivative transformations and loadings plot of bacterial spectra following heat treatment. The loadings for PC1 and PC2 confirmed that the amide I and amide II bands were the major contribution to spectral variation, with relatively small contributions from C-H deformations, the antisymmetric P==O stretching modes of the phosphodiester nucleic acid backbone, and the C-O-C stretching modes of polysaccharides. Using soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA), the extent of injury could be predicted correctly at least 83% of the time. Partial least squares (PLS) calibration analysis was constructed using 5 latent variables for predicting the bacterial counts for survivors of the different heat treatments and yielded a high correlation coefficient (R= 0.97 [S. enterica serotype Typhimurium] and 0.98 [L. monocytogenes]) and a standard error of prediction (SEP= 0.51 [S. enterica serotype Typhimurium] and 0.39 log10 CFU/mL [L. monocytogenes]), indicating that the degree of heat injury could be predicted. [source] Salivary immunoglobulin A directed to oral microbial GroEL in patients with periodontitis and their potential protective roleMOLECULAR ORAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2006M. Fukui The aim of this study was to identify salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) directed to oral microbial GroEL in patients with periodontitis and to demonstrate their potential protective role through a reduction of inflammatory cytokine production induced by microbial GroEL. Using five different proteins belonging to the heat-shock protein 60 family, Western immunoblot analysis of salivary IgA from 63 subjects revealed immunoreactivities with Campylobacter rectus GroEL and Porphyromonas gingivalis GroEL in subjects with periodontitis (P < 0.05) compared to control subjects. Using the BIACORE 1000 to measure the salivary IgA titers directed towards C. rectus GroEL, high resonance unit (RU) values were observed in the saliva samples from patients with periodontitis (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the number of teeth with deep pocket depth (,5 mm) showed a high correlation coefficient with the RU value (r = 0.50, P < 0.01). C. rectus GroEL possessed the ability to stimulate the production of interleukin-6 by gingival fibroblasts. Interestingly, salivary IgA antibody directed to C. rectus GroEL caused a partial inhibition of interleukin-6 production. This study showed a relationship between high levels of salivary IgA directed to GroEL and periodontal disease severity. Although additional investigations are required, salivary IgA to GroEL may have a protective role by reducing the inflammatory response induced by GroEL derived from periodontopathogenic bacteria. [source] Preliminary reliability and repeatability of the Brazilian version of the Revised Knox Preschool Play ScaleOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2010Amanda M. Pacciulio Abstract The aim of this study was to create an adaptation of the Revised Knox Preschool Play Scale (RKPPS) for the Brazilian population, as well as to apply the instrument with statistical analysis to verify the preliminary intra-rater and inter-rater reliability and repeatability of the instrument. The instructions presented by Beaton et al. regarding adaptation of instruments were followed to perform a cross-cultural adaptation of the RKPPS. A preliminary test of the Portuguese version was performed on 18 children with no motor, cognitive or sensory impairment. The video recordings of this administration were analysed on two separate occasions by two examiners within a 5-month interval, using the scores suggested by Pfeifer. The Spearman's test was used in the statistical analysis of the obtained data. The author of the RKPPS agreed with the small necessary cultural adaptations. The Spearman test revealed a high correlation coefficient and good significance levels for both intra- and inter-raters values. This study demonstrated the reliability and repeatability of the Brazilian version of the RKPPS. This is a preliminary study and further studies are needed in order to validate the scale to be administered in the Brazilian population. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Determination of non-steroidal estrogens in breast milk, plasma, urine and hair by gas chromatography/mass spectrometryRAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY, Issue 24 2002Man Ho Choi It is suspected that all the natural estrogens occurring in the human body, as well as dietary and synthetic estrogens, diversely affect the endocrine system depending on their exposure patterns. More rapid, reliable and accurate measurements of these compounds in various biological matrices are thus becoming an important task. After solid-phase extraction using an Oasis HLB extraction cartridge, the estrogen concentrates were derivatized with a mixture of N -methyl- N -trifluorotrimethylsilylacetamide/ammonium iodide/dithioerythritol (1000:4:5, v/w/w) for analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in the selected ion-monitoring (SIM) mode. The qualitative identification of estrogens detected in SIM mode was further confirmed by tandem mass spectrometry using low-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) mode. The method for the assay of the 20 estrogens was linear over the ranges of 1,1000,µg/L for biological fluids and 1,200,µg/kg for hair with high correlation coefficient (>0.99). The limits of quantitation (LOQ) ranged from 1.0,10,µg/L (or,µg/kg) and the limit of detection ranged from 0.2,3,µg/L (or,µg/kg). The average precision (% CV) and accuracy (% bias) of the method determined at the LOQ, low, and medium concentrations were in the ranges 2.6,9.2 and ,4.1,7.7, respectively. The average extraction recovery of the estrogens from plasma and hair at the three concentration levels varied in the ranges 77,103% (1.9,14.3% CV) and 73,104% (3.1,14%), respectively. The distribution patterns of the estrogens were characteristic of each biosample. Five estrogens in the range 1.5,44.9,µg/L were measured in breast milk, 8 estrogens in the range 3.5,322,µg/L in plasma, 12 estrogens at 1.2,442,µg/L in urine, and biochanin-A at 13.2,39.1,µg/kg in hair. Because of its high sensitivity, good precision and specificity, the present method was found suitable for the trace analysis of dietary and synthetic estrogens in complex biosamples such as breast milk, plasma, urine and hair. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Three-dimensional variational assimilation of Special Sensor Microwave/Imager data into a mesoscale weather-prediction model: A case studyTHE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY, Issue 626 2007C. Faccani Abstract Assimilation of data from the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) is performed in order to improve the forecast of a heavy-precipitation case (IOP2b, 20,21 September 1999) of the Mesoscale Alpine Programme 1999. The three-dimensional variational data assimilation technique of the MM5 model is used. Either brightness temperatures or precipitable water and surface wind speed are assimilated. The sensitivity of the model to SSM/I data is also tested by selectively excluding SSM/I frequencies and changing the size of the thinning box. All the experiments are performed using the European Center for Medium range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF) analysis on pressure level. The new initial conditions show considerable underestimation of the surface wind component V, and, even more, of the surface water vapour mixing ratio. This last error is partially corrected by assimilation of precipitable water alone, although these data produce a large increase in the mean error of the other surface variables (U, V and T). However, the forecast with this new set of initial conditions shows a good agreement (high correlation coefficient) with the rain gauge observations for the 1 h accumulated precipitation 3 h after the initial time. With a doubled box size, there is low sensitivity to the density of the observations used. In this case, the effect of the SSM/I data is slight, and the rainfall pattern produced is comparable to that obtained without any data assimilation. The model performance is also degraded if the 22 GHz brightness temperatures are removed from the assimilated measurements: the correlation coefficient for the precipitation is lower than in the case where all the frequencies are assimilated, and it decreases over time. In general, the use of precipitable water and surface wind speed affects the early stages (3 h) of the rainfall forecast, reducing the model spin-up. Brightness temperatures affect the forecast at a longer range (10 h). Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society [source] THE APPLICATION OF ELECTRON SPIN RESONANCE AS A GUIDE TO THE MATURATION AND TYPING OF ORGANIC MATTER IN THE NORTH SEAJOURNAL OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGY, Issue 1 2003R. A. McTavish In early electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis of North Sea wells, maturation of organic matter (OM) was expressed in terms of maximum palaeotemperature (MPT) based on North American calibrations that did not consider the influences of kerogen composition or overpressure. In the North Sea, the MPTs were anomalous in overpressured sequences and relative to other indices of OM maturation such as vitrinite reflectance, so the ESR method was abandoned there in geochemical studies. However, early empirical study of North Sea ESR data indicated that, in relation to functions that linked temperature and pore pressure, some ESR parameters were predictable without reference to MPTs. In order to re-evaluate ESR parameters as indices of OM maturation, the physical factors (temperature and pressure) which affect OM maturation are related in the present paper to the ESR parameters "g" (spectral position) and Ng (spin density) at six well locations in the northern North Sea. A third ESR parameter, W (line width), is not an effective guide to maturation levels due to its complex relationship to the physical factors and kerogen types. However, cross-plots of W versus "g" and Ng appear to be as effective as pyrolysis for kerogen typing. Levels of maturation investigated in the North Sea wells range through the equivalent vitrinite reflectance values of about 0.50,1.50%. The values of "g" and Ng have been differentiated for kerogen type, but undifferentiated values of "g" have also been studied. Regression analysis has shown that there are linear relationships between the ESR parameters "g" and Ng, and the physical factors present-day temperature (To), "effective" temperature (Te), and differential pressure (Pd). Correlation coefficients for both "g" (undifferentiated and differentiated) and Ng (differentiated) relative to the physical factors are high; the highest values are for "g" and Ng relative to Te and Pd (r =,0.950 for "g" differentiated or undifferentiated, r = 0.944,0.976 for Ng differentiated, respectively). However, correlation coefficients were lower for "g" and Ng relative to To. More frequent high correlation coefficients and larger sample populations suggest that "g" (undifferentiated) is a more reliable index of OM maturation than Ng(differentiated). However, the estimation of levels of OM maturation is improved if both indices are used together. The ESR method appears to be effective both for estimating levels of OM maturation and for kerogen typing. It has a number of potential advantages over other geochemical methods: firstly, it is more sensitive for estimating OM maturation than most other methods; secondly, it can be used to analyze organic matter which is as old as Proterozoic; thirdly, it does not destroy the samples analyzed. [source] CLOTHING MOVEMENT , VISUAL SENSORY EVALUATION AND ITS CORRELATION TO FABRIC PROPERTIESJOURNAL OF SENSORY STUDIES, Issue 3 2002PAULA GRIFFITHS ABSTRACT Clothing movement was evaluated on a video screen by a descriptive analysis sensory technique and correlated to tactile attributes and fabric mechanical properties. Six fabrics were tailored into identical wide-leg trousers and dresses, animated by a professional model, filmed and edited for sensory evaluation. Tactile attributes were assessed sensorially and fabric mechanical properties were characterized by F.A.S.T. (Fabric Assurance by Simple Testing) and drape measurements. The following bipolar attribute pairs dominate movement language and perception: flowing to stiff and heavyweight to lightweight. Perceptual space of clothing movement is essentially two dimensional and high correlation coefficients between visual and tactile attributes were found. The fabric drape coefficient correlates highly with visual and tactile attributes and is a simple screening method for clothing movement prediction. [source] Inter-Firm Linkages and Profitability in the Automobile Industry: The Implications for Supply Chain ManagementJOURNAL OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2001Harri Ramcharran SUMMARY The current studies on supply chain management are limited in their analysis of the linkages between firms in related industries. This study estimates the degree of linkages between automotive parts suppliers and automobile manufacturers. Significant linkages are demonstrated by the high correlation coefficients of the P/E ratio of auto parts suppliers and auto manufacturers and by the results of regression analysis. Demand uncertainty in the automobile manufacturing industry, resulting from business cycles and unexpected labor disputes, is one of the major risks facing auto parts suppliers. Risk assessment, utilizing information on linkages, is important for demand management and developing profit-maximizing strategies. [source] Agreement between administrative databases and medical charts for pregnancy-related variables among asthmatic women,PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY, Issue 4 2008Anne Vilain MSc Abstract Purpose To determine the validity of pregnancy variables recorded in administrative databases of Quebec using patient medical charts as the gold standard among asthmatic pregnant women. Methods Three administrative databases were linked and provided information on maternal, pregnancy and infant characteristics for 726 pregnant asthmatic women who delivered in 1990,2000. Algorithms were developed to measure variables that were not recorded directly in the databases or to minimize the number of missing values for variables recorded in two or more databases. Medical file data were collected by two trained research nurses in 43 hospitals. The validity of categorical variables was assessed with sensitivity, specificity, predictive positive values (PPVs) and predictive negative values (PNVs), whereas the validity of continuous variables was assessed with Pearson correlation using the medical chart as the gold standard. Results The sensitivity of the sex of the baby, previous live birth and previous pregnancy ranged from 0.97 to 0.99. Corresponding figures were 0.92,0.98 for specificity. We also found high correlation coefficients, ranging from 0.875 to 0.999 for the length of gestation, dates of last menstruation and delivery, maternal age and birth weight. Conclusion Pregnancy-related variables recorded in administrative databases or derived from algorithms based on two or more databases were found to be highly valid as compared to the medical chart among asthmatic women. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Accurate analysis of taurine, anserine, carnosine and free amino acids in a cattle muscle biopsy sampleANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 3 2010Mai IMANARI ABSTRACT We have established an analysis method for some free amino acids (FAAs), as well as taurine (Tau), anserine (Ans) and carnosine (Car), in a fresh biopsy sample from cattle muscle. A series of model biopsy samples, corresponding to the mixtures of lean meat, fat and connective tissue, was prepared and showed high correlation coefficients between the compound concentration and the 3-methylhistidine (3-MeHis) content derived from hydrolysis of the biopsy sample (r = 0.74,0.95, P < 0.01). Interference from blood contamination could not be neglected, because the concentration of some FAAs in blood was comparable to that in muscle. However, it was possible to control the contamination of Tau, Ans, Car, glutamic acid, glutamine, asparatic acid and alanine to less than 5.0% when the blood contamination was controlled to less than 23%. These results suggest the necessity of measuring 3-MeHis as an index of lean meat and hemoglobin as an index of blood contamination when compounds in muscle biopsy samples are evaluated. We have carried out a series of these analyses using one biopsy sample and reveal differences in Tau, Ans, Car and some FAAs in beef muscle after different feeding regimes. [source] Are solar cycles predictable?ASTRONOMISCHE NACHRICHTEN, Issue 10 2007M. Schüssler Abstract Various methods (or recipes) have been proposed to predict future solar activity levels , with mixed success. Among these, some precursor methods based upon quantities determined around or a few years before solar minimum have provided rather high correlations with the strength of the following cycles. Recently, data assimilation with an advection-dominated (flux-transport) dynamo model has been proposed as a predictive tool, yielding remarkably high correlation coefficients. After discussing the potential implications of these results and the criticism that has been raised, we study the possible physical origin(s) of the predictive skill provided by precursor and other methods. It is found that the combination of the overlap of solar cycles and their amplitude-dependent rise time (Waldmeier's rule) introduces correlations in the sunspot number (or area) record, which account for the predictive skill of many precursor methods. This explanation requires no direct physical relation between the precursor quantity and the dynamo mechanism (in the sense of the Babcock-Leighton scheme or otherwise). (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] | |||||||||||||||||||