Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) - Collection - UQ eSpace

Accounting for environmental effects and statistical noise in data envelopment analysis

2010-01-25T00:00:00Z

In this paper we propose a new technique for incorporating environmental effects and statistical noise into a producer performance evaluation based on data envelopment analysis (DEA). The technique involves a three-stage analysis. In the first stage, DEA is applied to outputs and inputs only, to obtain initial measures of producer performance. In the second stage, stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) is used to regress first stage performance measures against a set of environmental variables. This provides, for each input or output (depending on the orientation of the first stage DEA model), a three-way decomposition of the variation in performance into a part attributable to environmental effects, a part attributable to managerial inefficiency, and a part attributable to statistical noise. In the third stage, either inputs or outputs (again depending on the orientation of the first stage DEA model) are adjusted to account for the impact of the environmental effects and the statistical noise uncovered in the second stage, and DEA is used to re-evaluate producer performance. Throughout the analysis emphasis is placed on slacks, rather than on radial efficiency scores, as appropriate measures of producer performance. An application to nursing homes is provided to illustrate the power of the three-stage methodology.

Accounting for intangible investments

Wyatt, A. og Abernethy, M. — 2010-01-06T00:00:00Z

The traditional categorisation of expenditures evident in many firms’ charts of accounts and financial statements does not identify and measure expenditures on intangible investment separately from tangible investment and operating expenditures. This contrasts with the accounting for tangible investment, which separately accounts for all expenditures as assets unless the future benefits are consumed in a single accounting period. Further, in searching for better ways to account for intangibles, regulators and researchers have focused on the accounting choice problem relating to the existence and recognisability of intangible assets. In this paper, we argue that identifying and separately reporting the expenditures on intangible investment is the logical first step in accounting for intangible investments. Learning about the firm’s categories of value driving (and sometimes potentially value destroying) expenditures has important implications for understanding aspects of the value chain, performance measurement, valuation, corporate governance and the external audit.

Accounting for management costs in sensitivity analyses of matrix population models

2007-08-15T00:00:00Z

Traditional sensitivity and elasticity analyses of matrix population models have been used to p inform management decisions, but they ignore the economic costs of manipulating vital rates. For exam le, the growth rate of a population is often most sensitive to changes in adult survival rate, but this does not mean that increasing that rate is the best option for managing the population because it may be much more expensive than other options. To explore how managers should optimize their manipulation of vital rates, we incorporated the cost of changing those rates into matrix population models. We derived analytic expressions for locations in parameter space where managers should shift between management of fecundity and survival, for the balance between fecundity and survival management at those boundaries, and for the allocation of management resources to sustain that optimal balance. For simple matrices, the optimal budget allocation can often be expressed as simple functions of vital rates and the relative costs of changing them. We applied our method to management of the Helmeted Honeyeater (Lichenostomus melanops cassidix; an endangered Australian bird) and the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) as examples. Our method showed that cost-efficient management of the Helmeted Honeyeater should focus on increasing fecundity via nest protection, whereas optimal koala management should focus on manipulating both fecundity and survival simultaneously, These findings are contrary to the cost-negligent recommendations of elasticity analysis, which would suggest focusing on managing survival in both cases. A further investigation of Helmeted Honeyeater management options, based on an individual-based model incorporating density dependence, spatial structure, and environmental stochasticity, confirmed that fecundity management was the most cost-effective strategy. Our results demonstrate that decisions that ignore economic factors will reduce management efficiency.

Accounting for positioning in a community of practice: Experiences of NESB beginning and novice teachers

McCluskey, Kerryn G. — 2009-12-21T00:00:00Z

Accounting for SGARAs: A stocktake of accounting practice before compliance with AASB141 'Agriculture'

Herbohn, K. F. — 2007-08-15T00:00:00Z

Accounting for the environment

Walsh, T. K. E. — 2009-02-10T00:00:00Z

Corporations are currently required to provide information on environmental performance in their annual directors' report under s 299(1)(f) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). However, industry groups and even the Federal Government have been calling for the repeal of s 299(1)(f) since its inception in favour of voluntary environmental reporting. Ironically, such calls have come at a time when nations around the world are introducing mandatory environmental auditing/reporting requirements, and when the Corporate Code of Conduct Bill 2000 (Cth) was before the Australian Parliament (it has since lapsed), which would have led to the expansion of the environmental reporting requirements of Australian corporations operating overseas. This paper argues that mandatory environmental reporting is becoming international best practice, and that even if the Federal Government does effect the repeal of s 299(1)(f), it will be replaced before long with an equivalent or even more onerous section.

Accounting for uncertainty in marine reserve design

2007-08-15T00:00:00Z

Ecosystems and the species and communities within them are highly complex systems that defy predictions with any degree of certainty. Managing and conserving these systems in the face of uncertainty remains a daunting challenge, particularly with respect to developing networks of marine reserves. Here we review several modelling frameworks that explicitly acknowledge and incorporate uncertainty, and then use these methods to evaluate reserve spacing rules given increasing levels of uncertainty about larval dispersal distances. Our approach finds similar spacing rules as have been proposed elsewhere - roughly 20-200 km - but highlights several advantages provided by uncertainty modelling over more traditional approaches to developing these estimates. In particular, we argue that uncertainty modelling can allow for (1) an evaluation of the risk associated with any decision based on the assumed uncertainty; (2) a method for quantifying the costs and benefits of reducing uncertainty; and (3) a useful tool for communicating to stakeholders the challenges in managing highly uncertain systems. We also argue that incorporating rather than avoiding uncertainty will increase the chances of successfully achieving conservation and management goals.

Accounting for verb-initial order in an Australian language

2007-12-20T00:00:00Z

Accounting recognition of intangible assets: Theory and evidence on economic determinants

Wyatt, Anne — 2010-01-07T00:00:00Z

This paper examines the extent to which management makes accounting choices to record intangible assets based on their insights into the underlying economics of their firm. It exploits a setting in which management has accounting discretion to record a wide range of intangible assets. The results suggest that management's choice to record intangible assets is associated with the strength of the technology affecting the firms operations, the length of the technology cycle time, and property-rights-related factors that affect the firm's ability to appropriate the investment benefits. These effects are more important than other contracting and signaling factors consistent with the underlying economics operating as a first-order effect as envisaged by GAAP. The results also indicate that the intangible assets management has a voluntary (unregulated) choice to record - identifiable intangible assets - are more highly correlated with underlying economic factors than the regulated classes, purchased goodwill and R&D assets. This result suggests that limiting managements' choices to record intangible assets tends to reduce, rather than improve, the quality of the balance sheet and investors' information set.

Accoustic and perceptual cues for compound-phrasal contrasts in Vietnamese

Nguyen, Anh-Thu T. og Ingram, John C. — 2008-05-02T00:00:00Z

This paper reports two series of experiments that examined the phonetic correlates of lexical stress in Vietnamese compounds in comparison to their phrasal constructions. In the first series of experiments, acoustic and perceptual characteristics of Vietnamese compound words and their phrasal counterparts were investigated on five likely acoustic correlates of stress or prominence (f0 range and contour, duration, intensity and spectral slope, vowel reduction), elicited under two distinct speaking conditions: a "normal speaking" condition and a "maximum contrast" condition which encouraged speakers to employ prosodic strategies for disambiguation. The results suggested that Vietnamese lacks phonetic resources for distinguishing compounds from phrases lexically and that native speakers may employ a phrase-level prosodic disambiguation strategy (juncture marking), when required to do so. However, in a second series of experiments, minimal pairs of bisyllabic coordinative compounds with reversible s

Accreditation and the globalization of business

Zammuto, Raymond F. — 2009-11-12T00:00:00Z

Julian and Ofori-Dankwa (2006) argue that on-line education and corporate universities are potentially disruptive threats to traditional U.S. business schools and suggest that accreditation processes may hinder their ability to adapt to these threats. I challenge those arguments by showing that it is unlikely that on-line education and corporate universities will disrupt the environment of traditional business schools. I also show that two longer term trends--the growth of for-profit universities and the globalization of business education coupled with the diffusion of accreditation--are likely to have an impact on business school enrollment markets both within and outside the United States. My conclusion is that accreditation can be beneficial to many business schools for two reasons. One reason is that accreditation processes require that business schools gain clarity about the markets they serve and the services they offer, which is increasingly important as enrollment markets grow more competitive. The other reason is that the value of accreditation as a quality differentiator appears to be rising in the markets for part-time working students and international students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Accreditation into the Future', Cross Winds to Calm Waters

Sourdin Tania — 2009-01-20T00:00:00Z

Accreditation, research and NADRAC's New Charter

Sourdin, Tania — 2009-01-20T00:00:00Z

Acculturation and eating disorders in Asian and Caucasian Australian adolescent girls

2007-08-15T00:00:00Z

The present study aimed to compare the attitudes and psychopathology of eating disorders between Asian and Caucasian adolescent girls; and investigate the relationship between acculturation and the attitudes and psychopathology of eating disorders in subgroups of Asian girls. Two groups of non-clinical adolescent girls in Perth, Western Australia, were compared using a survey method. There were 17 Asian and 25 Caucasian adolescent girls, aged 14-17 drawn from private high schools in Perth who were screened using the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI-2), and an acculturation index. The psychopathology scores for eating disorders of the Asian group were significantly higher than that of the Caucasian group in terms of total EDI-2 score, Interpersonal Distrust, Maturity Fears, Impulse Regulation and Social Insecurity subscales. Eating attitudes measured by Dieting subscale of the EAT-26 was significantly different. Within the Asian group, the less acculturated girls had higher scores on the EAT-26 and the EDI-2 than the more acculturated. Less acculturated Asian girls appeared to have unhealthier attitudes and psychopathology toward eating.

Accumulating Brisk Walking for Fitness, Cardiovascular Risk, and Psychological Health

2009-03-03T00:00:00Z

MURPHY, M., A. NEVILL, C. NEVILLE, S. BIDDLE, and A. HARDMAN. Accumulating brisk walking for fitness, cardiovascular risk, and psychological health. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 34, No. 9, pp. 1468–1474, 2002. Purpose: To compare the effects of different patterns of regular brisk walking on fitness, risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and psychological well-being in previously sedentary adults. Methods: Twenty-one subjects (14 women), aged 44.5 ± 6.1 yr (mean ± SD) were randomly assigned to two different, 6-wk programs of brisk walking in a cross-over design, with an interval of 2 wk. One program comprised one 30-min walk per day, 5 d·wk-1 (long bout) and the other three 10-min walks per day, also 5 d·wk-1 (short bouts). All walking was at 70–80% of predicted maximal heart rate. Maximal oxygen uptake ([latin capital V with dot above]O2max), body composition, resting arterial blood pressure, fasting plasma lipoprotein variables, and psychological parameters were assessed before and after each program. Results: Overall, subjects completed 88.2 ± 1.1% and 91.3 ± 4.1% of prescribed total walking time in the short- and long-bout programs, respectively. Both programs increased plasma concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and decreased concentrations of triacylglycerol and total cholesterol (all P < 0.05). There were no changes in body mass, but the sum of four skinfolds, waist circumference, and hip circumference were decreased after both walking programs (all P < 0.05). Predicted [latin capital V with dot above]O2max increased with both programs (P < 0.05), but this increase was greater with the program based on short bouts (P < 0.05). Both walking patterns resulted in similar decreases in tension/anxiety (P < 0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that three short bouts (10 min) of brisk walking accumulated throughout the day are at least as effective as one continuous bout of equal total duration in reducing cardiovascular risk and improving aspects of mood in previously sedentary individuals.

Accumulation and partitioning of heavy metals in mangroves: A synthesis of field-based studies

2010-01-08T00:00:00Z

Accumulation of homolanthionine and activation of a novel pathway for isoleucine biosynthesis in corynebacterium glutamicum McbR deletion strains

2009-02-13T00:00:00Z

n the present work, the metabolic consequences of the deletion of the methionine and cysteine biosynthesis repressor protein (McbR) in Corynebacterium glutamicum, which releases almost all enzymes of methionine biosynthesis and sulfate assimilation from transcriptional regulation (D. A. Rey, A. Pühler, and J. Kalinowski, J. Biotechnol. 103:51-65, 2003), were studied. C. glutamicum ATCC 13032 {Delta}mcbR showed no overproduction of methionine. Metabolome analysis revealed drastic accumulation of a single metabolite, which was not present in the wild type. It was identified by isotopic labeling studies and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry as L-homolanthionine {S-[(3S)-3-amino-3-carboxypropyl]-L-homocysteine}. The accumulation of homolanthionine to an intracellular concentration of 130 mM in the {Delta}mcbR strain was accompanied by an elevated intracellular homocysteine level. It was shown that cystathionine-{gamma}-synthase (MetB) produced homolanthionine as a side reaction. MetB showed higher substrate affinity for cysteine (Km = 260 µM) than for homocysteine (Km = 540 µM). The cell is able to cleave homolanthionine at low rates via cystathionine-ß-lyase (MetC). This cleavage opens a novel threonine-independent pathway for isoleucine biosynthesis via 2-oxobutanoate formed by MetC. In fact, the deletion mutant exhibited an increased intracellular isoleucine level. Metabolic flux analysis of C. glutamicum {Delta}mcbR revealed that only 24% of the O-acetylhomoserine at the entry of the methionine pathway is utilized for methionine biosynthesis; the dominating fraction is either stored as homolanthionine or redirected towards the formation of isoleucine. Deletion of metB completely prevents homolanthionine accumulation, which is regarded as an important step in the development of C. glutamicum strains for biotechnological methionine production.

Accumulation of human heat shock protein 60-reactive T cells in the gingival tissues of periodontitis patients

2007-08-14T00:00:00Z

Heat shock protein 60s (hsp60) are remarkably immunogenic, and both T-cell and antibody responses to hsp60 have been reported in various inflammatory conditions. To clarify the role of hsp60 in T-cell responses in periodontitis, we examined the proliferative response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), as well as the cytokine profile and T-cell clonality, for periodontitis patients and controls following stimulation with recombinant human hsp60 and Porphyromonas gingivalis GroEL. To confirm the infiltration of hsp60-reactive T-cell clones into periodontitis lesions, nucleotide sequences within complementarity-determining region 3 of the T-cell receptor (TCR) beta-chain were compared between hsp60-reactive peripheral blood T cells and periodontitis lesion-infiltrating T cells. Periodontitis patients demonstrated significantly higher proliferative responses of PBMC to human hsp60, but not to P. gingivalis GroEL, than control subjects. The response was inhibited by anti-major histocompatibility complex class 11 antibodies. Analysis of the nucleotide sequences of the TCR demonstrated that human hsp60-reactive T-cell clones and periodontitis lesion-infiltrating T cells have the same receptors, suggesting that hsp60-reactive T cells accumulate in periodontitis lesions. Analysis of the cytokine profile demonstrated that hsp60-reactive PBMC produced significant levels of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) in periodontitis patients, whereas P. gingivalis GroEL did not induce any, skewing toward a type1 or type2 cytokine profile. In control subjects no significant expression of IFN-gamma or interleukin 4 was induced. These results suggest that periodontitis patients have human hsp60-reactive T cells with a type I cytokine profile in their peripheral blood T-cell pools.

Accuracy and costs of mapping riparian zones from LiDAR, QuickBird and SPOT-5 image data

Johansen, K. og Phinn, S. — 2010-03-11T00:00:00Z

Accuracy and feasibility of online 3D echo for measurement of LV parameters

2007-08-23T00:00:00Z

Accuracy and feasibility of online 3-dimensional echocardiography for measurement of left ventricular parameters

2007-08-15T00:00:00Z

Accuracy, and the prediction of ground vibration from underground railways

Hunt, Hugh og Hussein, Mohammed — 2008-03-13T00:00:00Z

This paper demonstrates the capability of a new – and freely-available – PiP software for calculating vibration from railway tunnels. PiP is used to examine the sources of uncertainly in models used to predict vibration from underground railways. By varying slightly the parameters of the model, consistent with uncertainties in measured data, the vibration levels predicted by the model vary significantly, often by 10dB or more. This error is hard to predict so it cannot be good practice to rely on prediction models for accuracy better than 10dB. The presentation will demonstrate the PiP model in real time.

Accuracy and utility of realtime paediatric echocardiographic transmission via telemedicine

2007-08-15T00:00:00Z

Accuracy of aimpoint detection during passive landing

2007-08-13T00:00:00Z

Accuracy of Circulation Estimation Schemes Applied to Discretised Velocity Field Data

2007-12-18T00:00:00Z

Numerical experiments are conducted on the velocity field of the Oseen vortex to determine the effect of random errors in the velocity field on the circulation estimate. The circulation is estimated by either a velocity integral or a vorticity integral over a particular region of integration. A novel method for the determination of this region is used. The accuracy of circulation estimation schemes is characterised in terms of the velocity sample spacing, the amount of random noise in the velocity field and the vorticity estimation scheme used. It is found that, in general, the velocity integral outperforms the vorticity integral in terms of reducing total error.

Accuracy of DXA scanning of the thoracic spine: cadaveric studies comparing BMC, areal BMD and geometric estimates of volumetric BMD against ash weight and CT measures of bone volume

2009-03-10T00:00:00Z

Biomechanical studies of the thoracic spine often scan cadaveric segments by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to obtain measures of bone mass. Only one study has reported the accuracy of lateral scans of thoracic vertebral bodies. The accuracy of DXA scans of thoracic spine segments and of anterior-posterior (AP) thoracic scans has not been investigated. We have examined the accuracy of AP and lateral thoracic DXA scans by comparison with ash weight, the gold-standard for measuring bone mineral content (BMC). We have also compared three methods of estimating volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) with a novel standard–ash weight (g)/bone volume (cm3) as measured by computed tomography (CT). Twelve T5–T8 spine segments were scanned with DXA (AP and lateral) and CT. The T6 vertebrae were excised, the posterior elements removed and then the vertebral bodies were ashed in a muffle furnace. We proposed a new method of estimating vBMD and compared it with two previously published methods. BMC values from lateral DXA scans displayed the strongest correlation with ash weight (r=0.99) and were on average 12.8% higher (p<0.001). As expected, BMC (AP or lateral) was more strongly correlated with ash weight than areal bone mineral density (aBMD; AP: r=0.54, or lateral: r=0.71) or estimated vBMD. Estimates of vBMD with either of the three methods were strongly and similarly correlated with volumetric BMD calculated by dividing ash weight by CT-derived volume. These data suggest that readily available DXA scanning is an appropriate surrogate measure for thoracic spine bone mineral and that the lateral scan might be the scan method of choice.

Accuracy of Mothers' Retrospective Reports of Smoking During Pregnancy: Comparison with Twin Sister Informant Ratings

2007-08-14T00:00:00Z

Retrospective assessment of maternal smoking or substance use during pregnancy is sometimes unavoidable. The unusually close relationship of twin sister pairs permits comparison of self-report data versus co-twin informant data on substance use during pregnancy. Information about smoking during pregnancy has been gathered from a series of mothers from an Australian volunteer twin panel (576 women reporting on 995 pregnancies), supplemented in many cases by independent ratings of their smoking by twin sister informants (821 pregnancies). Estimates of the proportion of women who had never smoked regularly (56-58%), who had smoked but did not smoke during a particular pregnancy (16-21%), or who smoked throughout the pregnancy (16-18%), were in good agreement whether based on self-report or twin sister informant data. However, informants underreported cases who smoked during the first trimester but then quit (1-3% versus 7-9% by self-report). Women who smoked throughout pregnancy (by informant report) rarely denied a history of regular smoking (<1%), although a small proportion of apparent false negative cases were identified where they either denied smoking during a pregnancy (9%) or denied smoking beyond the first trimester (10%). We conclude that retrospective smoking data can safely be used to identify potential associations of later child outcomes with maternal smoking during pregnancy.

Accuracy of paediatric echocardiographic transmission via telemedicine

2007-08-15T00:00:00Z

Accuracy of pQCT for evaluating the aged human radius: an ashing, histomorphometry and failure load investigation

2009-03-13T00:00:00Z

Introduction: Quantifying the determinants of bone strength is essential to understanding if or how the structure will fail under load. Determining failure requires knowledge of material and geometric properties. However, characterizing the relative contributions of geometric parameters of bone to overall bone strength has been difficult to date because of limitations in imaging technology. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) uses digital images to derive estimates of bone strength in the peripheral skeleton and is a relatively safe technique to differentiate cortical from trabecular bone and assess bone geometry and density. However, in a compromised osteoporotic bone, thin cortices and low scan resolution can limit accurate analysis. Methods: Therefore, in this two-part investigation we scanned ten pairs (n=20) of fresh-frozen radial specimens [female, mean (SD) age 79(6) years] using pQCT (XCT 2000) at the 4 and 30% sites of the distal radius. We investigated the accuracy of four different acquisition resolutions (200, 300, 400, 500 μm) and several analysis modes and thresholds. We evaluated (1) the accuracy of the Norland/Stratec XCT 2000 pQCT in assessing low-density bones by comparing pQCT outcomes to ashing and histomorphometry and (2) the association of geometric parameters by pQCT and areal bone mineral density (aBMD) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to failure load at the distal radius. Results: Using histomorphometry and ashing as reference standards, we found that pQCT scans varied systematically and underestimated or overestimated total area and mineral content at the radial midshaft depending on the analysis algorithm and selected threshold. Overall, most pQCT analysis modes were accurate. In the mechanical testing studies, bone mineral content and cortical bone content at the midshaft were strongly associated with failure load. The pQCT parameters that best accounted for failure load were total content at the 4% site and cortical thickness at the 30% site and they accounted for up to 81% of the variance. The best DXA predictor of failure load was total density at the distal third site and it explained 75% of the variance. Conclusions: In summary, analysis mode, resolution and thresholding affected pQCT outputs at the radial midshaft. This study extends our understanding of pQCT analysis and provides important data regarding determinants of bone strength at the distal radius

Accuracy of pre-recorded video images for the assessment of rural indigenous children with ear, nose and throat conditions

2007-10-17T00:00:00Z

We compared the accuracy of ear, nose and throat (ENT) assessments made by a specialist in the conventional face-to-face (FTF) manner with assessments made using pre-recorded information, i.e. history and video recording of the ears, nose, face and throat. 58 patients, mainly of indigenous background, agreed to participate in the study (median age 6 years, interquartile range 4-8). They were assessed FTF by a specialist and then at least two months later were assessed by the same specialist on the basis of video clips and history recorded by a research nurse. A consensus panel of otolaryngologists compared the diagnosis and management from the original face-to-face appointment and the review of the pre-recorded material. Of the 58 assessments, the diagnosis was the same in 47 cases (81%). Where differences in opinion occurred, four were considered to be related to the quality of baseline history and seven were thought to be related to the examination. Decisions related to clinical management (including treatment) were identical in 44 cases (76%). Where differences were identified, six were related to quality of history and seven associated with the examination. When intra-observer agreement was measured, there were variations in up to 10% of cases which may explain some of the discrepancies in the cases reviewed. The study confirms that pre-recorded video images are useful for the assessment of common ENT conditions. It also demonstrates the potential of a telemedicine application for the early detection and monitoring of indigenous children at high risk of developing chronic diseases that cause hearing loss.

Accuracy of self-reported body weight, height and waist circumference in a Dutch overweight working population

2010-04-01T00:00:00Z

Accuracy of single quantum dot registration using cryogenic laser photolithography

2010-01-21T00:00:00Z

We have registered the position of single InGaAs quantum dots using a novel cryogenic laser photolithography technique. This would be useful in realizing solid state cavity quantum electrodynamics. By fabricating metal alignment markers around the quantum dot, it was registered with an accuracy of 50 nm. Following the marker fabrication process we demonstrated that the same quantum dot was reacquired, with an accuracy of 150 nm. The photoluminescence spectra from the quantum dots before and after processing were identical except for a small red shift (~1 nm), probably introduced during the reactive ion etching.

Accuracy of SRM and power tap power monitoring systems for bicycling

2007-08-15T00:00:00Z

Purpose: Although manufacturers of bicycle power monitoring devices SRM and Power Tap (PT) claim accuracy to within 2.5%, there are limited scientific data available in support. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the accuracy of SRM and PT under different conditions. Methods: First, 19 SRM were calibrated, raced for 11 months, and retested using a dynamic CALRIG (50-1000 W at 100 rpm). Second, using the same procedure, five PT were repeat tested on alternate days. Third, the most accurate SRM and PT were tested for the influence of cadence (60, 80, 100, 120 rpm), temperature (8 and 21degreesC) and time (1 h at similar to300 W) on accuracy. Finally, the same SRM and PT were downloaded and compared after random cadence and gear surges using the CALRIG and on a training ride. Results: The mean error scores for SRM and PT factory calibration over a range of 50-1000 W were 2.3 +/- 4.9% and -2.5 +/- 0.5%, respectively. A second set of trials provided stable results for 15 calibrated SRM after 11 months (-0.8 +/- 1.7%), and follow-up testing of all PT units confirmed these findings (-2.7 +/- 0.1%). Accuracy for SRM and PT was not largely influenced by time and cadence; however. power output readings were noticeably influenced by temperature (5.2% for SRM and 8.4% for PT). During field trials, SRM average and max power were 4.8% and 7.3% lower, respectively, compared with PT. Conclusions: When operated according to manufacturers instructions, both SRM and PT offer the coach, athlete, and sport scientist the ability to accurately monitor power output in the lab and the field. Calibration procedures matching performance tests (duration, power, cadence, and temperature) are, however, advised as the error associated with each unit may vary.

Accuracy of strain rate techniques for ientification of viability at dobutamine stress echo: A follow-up study after revascularization

2007-08-23T00:00:00Z

Background. Myocardial viability (VM) assessment based on wall motion scoring (WMS) with dobutamine echo (DbE) is difficult and subjective. New quantitative techniques such as strain rate imaging (SRI) correspond with isotopic techniques but their ability to predict functional recovery (FR) after revascularization is unclear. Methods. Stable post-MI pts (n=43, age 63±9, EF 36±6%) underwent SRI during DbE. WMS evidence of VM was based on lowdose augmentation at DbE. SR, end-systolic strain (ESS), post-systolic strain (PSS) and timing were analyzed at rest and low dose in abnormal segts. Pts were followed for 9±12 months; FR was defined as segt improvement on post-revascularization images. Results: Of 180 segts with abnormal resting function, 83 showed FR and 97 did not. Resting parameters were not predictive of recovery; resting post-systolic shortening had a sensitivity and specificity <50%. Viable vs nonviable segts showed differences in lowdose SR (0.9±0.6 vs 0.4±0.5/s, p<0.001, optimal cutoff >0.6), SR increment (0.5±0.5 vs 0.1±0.6/s, p<0.001, cutoff >0.23), ESS (11.6±9.2 vs 4.7±9.3, p<0.001, cutoff >8.5), ESS increment (4.9±9.9 vs 0.7±6.2, p<0.001, cutoff >3.4) and time to ES (0.31±0.9 vs 0.38±0.09, p<0.001, cutoff <0.32). Sensitivity and specificity of quantitative parameters were comparable to WM analysis (Table). Conclusions. SR and strain responses to DbE are a feasible marker of viability, comparable to WM assessment.

Accuracy of the MedGemTM indirect calorimeter in cancer patients

2010-04-15T00:00:00Z

Accuracy of two dimensional strain for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease - an angiographic comparison

2007-08-23T00:00:00Z

Accurate and robust quantification of circulating fetal and total DNA in maternal plasma from 5 to 41 weeks of gestation

2009-03-20T00:00:00Z

Accurate cell sorting and positioning studies

Osborne, G. W. — 2007-08-23T00:00:00Z

Accurately measuring the abundance of benthic microalgae in spatially variable habitats

2008-02-18T00:00:00Z

Although many studies measure the abundance of benthic microalgae (BMA), at the meters squared scale, comparing these studies is difficult due to the variety of sampling, extraction, and analysis techniques. This difficulty is exacerbated by the fact that BMA abundance has high spatial and temporal variability, at all spatial scales. A suitable standard sampling regimen would reduce variation in estimates due to different sample collection and processing greatly facilitating comparisons between studies. This study examined the effect of varying the volume of extraction solvent, sampling core diameter, and sample replication on BMA biomass estimates. Key findings, applicable to all spatial scales, to accurately determine biomass were the use of a minimum sediment to extraction solvent ratio of 1:2 and use of a sampling core diameter of 19 mm. Across a wide range of sediment types, at the meters squared scale and using spectrophotometric techniques, a minimum replication number of 8 was found to be appropriate. We report the significant effect coring depth and units of expression have on BMA biomass estimates across a range of sediment types, highlighting the potential pitfalls when comparing studies.

Accurate Modeling of the Effects of Fringing Area Interface Traps on Scanning Capacitance Microscopy Measurement

2006-05-09T00:00:00Z

Scanning capacitance microscopy (SCM) is a dopant profile extraction tool with nanometre spatial resolution. While it is based on the high-frequency MOS capacitor theory, there are crucial second-order effects which make the extraction of dopant profile from SCM data a challenging task. Due to small size of the SCM probe, the trapped charges in the interface traps at the oxide-silicon dioxide interface surrounding the probe significantly affect the measured SCM data through the fringing electric field created by the trapped charges. In this paper, we present numerical simulation results to investigate the nature of SCM dC/dV data in the presence of interface traps. The simulation takes into consideration the traps response to the ac signal used to measure dC/dV as well as the fringing field of the trapped charge surrounding the probe tip. In the study, we present an error estimation of experimental SCM dopant concentration extraction when the interface traps and fringing field are ignored. The trap distribution in a typical SCM sample is also investigated.

Accurate orientation relationship between ferrite and austenite in low carbon martensite and granular bainite

Zhang, MX og Kelly, PM — 2007-08-14T00:00:00Z

Convergent beam Kikuchi diffraction was used to accurately determine the orientation relationships (ORs) between austenite and martensite, and between austenite and granular bainite in two Fe-Ni-Mn-C alloys. Both martensite and granular bainite have the same crystallographic characteristics with the OR: (111)(A)parallel to(101)(F), [1 (1) over bar0](A) 2.5degrees +/- 2degrees from [1 (1) over bar(1) over bar](B).

Accurate prediction of scorpion toxin functional properties from primary structures

2007-08-15T00:00:00Z

Scorpion toxins are common experimental tools for studies of biochemical and pharmacological properties of ion channels. The number of functionally annotated scorpion toxins is steadily growing, but the number of identified toxin sequences is increasing at much faster pace. With an estimated 100,000 different variants, bioinformatic analysis of scorpion toxins is becoming a necessary tool for their systematic functional analysis. Here, we report a bioinformatics-driven system involving scorpion toxin structural classification, functional annotation, database technology, sequence comparison, nearest neighbour analysis, and decision rules which produces highly accurate predictions of scorpion toxin functional properties. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Accurate quantification of the heart rate variability components using time-frequency based instantaneous frequency

2010-02-17T00:00:00Z

Accurate stationary densities with partitioned numerical methods for stochastic differential equations

Burrage, Kevin og Lythe, Grant — 2009-09-04T00:00:00Z

We devise explicit partitioned numerical methods for second–order-in-time scalar stochastic differential equations, using one Gaussian random variable per timestep. The construction proceeds by analysis of the stationary density in the case of constant-coefficient linear equations, imposing exact stationary statistics in the position variable and absence of correlation between position and velocity; the remaining error is in the velocity variable. A new two-stage “reverse leapfrog” method has good properties in the position variable and is symplectic in the limit of zero damping. Explicit new “Runge–Kutta leapfrog” methods are constructed, sharing the property that $q_{n+1}=q_n+\frac{1}{2}(p_n+p_{n+1})\Delta t$, whose mean-square velocity order increases with the number of stages. ©2009 Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics

A census of critical sets in the Latin squares of order at most six

Adams, P og Bean, R og Khodkar, A — 2007-08-15T00:00:00Z

A critical set in a Latin square of order n is a set of entries from the square which can be embedded in precisely one Latin square of order n, Such that if any element of the critical set. is deleted, the remaining set can be embedded, in more than one Latin square of order n.. In this paper we find all the critical sets of different sizes in the Latin squares of order at most six. We count the number of main and isotopy classes of these critical sets and classify critical sets from the main classes into various strengths. Some observations are made about the relationship between the numbers of classes, particularly in the 6 x 6 case. Finally some examples are given of each type of critical set.

A Century After A Nobel Prize: The Legacy of Lippmann's Colour Photography

Wegener, M. — 2010-03-16T00:00:00Z

Acetaminophen in cancer pain

2009-12-16T00:00:00Z

Acetate and propionate short chain fatty acids stimulate adipogenesis via GPCR43

2009-01-13T00:00:00Z

It has recently been discovered that G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) 41 and 43 are characterized by having the short chain fatty acids acetate and propionate as their ligands. The objective of this study was to investigate the involvement of GPCR41, GPCR43, and their ligands in the process of adipogenesis. We measured the levels of GPCR41 and GPCR43 mRNA in both adipose and other tissues of the mouse. GRP43 mRNA expression was higher in four types of adipose tissue than in other tissues, whereas GPCR41 mRNA was not detected in any adipose tissues. A high level of GPCR43 expression was found in isolated adipocytes, but expression level was very low in stromal-vascular cells. Expression of GPCR43 was up-regulated in adipose tissues of mice fed a high-fat diet compared with those fed a normal-fat diet. GPCR43 mRNA could not be detected in confluent and undifferentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes; however, the levels rose with time after the initiation of differentiation. GPCR41 expression was not detected in confluent and differentiated adipocytes. Acetate and propionate treatments increased lipids present as multiple droplets in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Propionate significantly elevated the level of GPCR43 expression during adipose differentiation, with up-regulation of PPAR-{gamma}2. Small interfering RNA mediated a reduction of GPCR43 mRNA in 3T3-L1 cells and blocked the process of adipocyte differentiation. In addition, both acetate and propionate inhibited isoproterenol-induced lipolysis in a dose-dependent manner. We conclude that acetate and propionate short chain fatty acids may have important physiological roles in adipogenesis through GPCR43, but not through GPCR41.

Acetate oxidation is the dominant methanogenic pathway from acetate in the absence of Methanosaetaceae

2007-10-17T00:00:00Z

The oxidation of acetate to hydrogen, and the subsequent conversion of hydrogen and carbon dioxide to methane, has been regarded largely as a niche mechanism occurring at high temperatures or under inhibitory conditions. In this study, 13 anaerobic reactors and sediment from a temperate anaerobic lake were surveyed for their dominant methanogenic population by using fluorescent in situ hybridization and for the degree of acetate oxidation relative to aceticlastic conversion by using radiolabeled [2-C-14]acetate in batch incubations. When Methanosaetaceae were not present, acetate oxidation was the dominant methanogenic pathway. Acetielastic conversion was observed only in the presence of Methanosaetaceae.

Acetazolamide reduces exercise capacity and increases leg fatigue under hypoxic conditions

2007-08-15T00:00:00Z

Acetazolamide (Acz) is used at altitude to prevent acute mountain sickness, but its effect on exercise capacity under hypoxic conditions is uncertain. Nine healthy men completed this double-blind, randomized, crossover study. All subjects underwent incremental exercise to exhaustion with an inspired O-2 fraction of 0.13, hypoxic ventilatory responses, and hypercapnic ventilatory responses after Acz (500 mg twice daily for 5 doses) and placebo. Maximum power of 203 +/- 38 (SD) Won Acz was less than the placebo value of 225 +/- 40 W (P < 0.01). At peak exercise, arterialized capillary pH was lower and PO2 higher on Acz (P < 0.01). Ventilation was 118.6 +/- 20.0 l/min at the maximal power on Acz and 102.4 +/- 20.7 l/min at the same power on placebo (P < 0.02), and Borg score for leg fatigue was increased on Acz (P < 0.02), with no difference in Borg score for dyspnea. Hypercapnic ventilatory response on Acz was greater (P < 0.02), whereas hypoxic ventilatory response was unchanged. During hypoxic exercise, Acz reduced exercise capacity associated with increased perception of leg fatigue. Despite increased ventilation, dyspnea was not increased.