Uncovering Spatio-Temporal Patterns in Environmental Data

The integration of data mining and geographic visualization techniques facilitates the identification and the interpretationof spatio-temporal patterns – a process recognized as knowledge construction. Knowledge construction is a dynamic process of manipulating 'data' to find, relate, and interpret interestingpatterns in large environmental data sets. Toward this end, anoverview of the main methods associated with the expanding fieldsof Knowledge Discovery in Databases (KDD) and Geographic Visualization (GeoVis) is provided. The paper explains how different methods can be combined in order to design a knowledgeconstruction process for the identification and interpretation of the space-time variability of both composition and structureof a pattern. Case studies, tools and prototype implementationsare described for illustrating how both KDD and GeoVis methods can be applied to uncovering spatio-temporal patterns. Finally,the specific underlying research issues are described, with particular emphasis on how these relate to the environmental sciences domain.     

Aggregation in memory of episodic influences on rule-guided decisions.

The authors confirmed E. Z. Rothkopf and M. L,. Dashen's (1905) finding that specific problem context, such as thematic surface features, forms associative connections with deep problem features and thus speeds particular decisions (particularization). In 5 experiments, using a 3-bit decision task and pre-memorized decision rules, the authors found that the ability of a situational context to reinstate was decreased by its replacement by another modal surface context. Context reinstatement, as measured by decision speed, depended on both global and recent local densities of specific problem features linked in a particular decision. The authors' results are consistent with J. R. Anderson and I. J. Schooler's (1991) needs/odds analysis and suggest a push-down file model for diverse context influences as a mechanism for responding to changing situational demands. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Tailored Interventions for Motivating Smoking Cessation: Using Placebo Tailoring to Examine the Influence of Expectancies and Personalization.

The present study examined mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of tailored interventions for motivating smoking cessation. The study used a placebo-tailoring design to test whether the efficacy of tailoring was due, in part, to personalized features in addition to the theoretically based content. Two hundred forty adult smokers were randomized to 1 of 3 conditions: standard booklet, minimally personalized booklet, or extensively personalized booklet. The interventions varied in their degree of ostensible tailoring, yet the actual smoking-related content of the booklets was identical. A dose-response relationship was hypothesized, with the greatest apparent tailoring producing the most positive outcomes. This pattern was found for evaluation of the booklets, with trends for readiness to change and self-efficacy increases. Moreover, as hypothesized, the effect of the interventions on readiness was moderated by participants' expectancies about tailoring. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Fungicidal and Insecticidal Activity of O-Acyl Chitosan Derivatives

Summary A series of O-(acyl) chitosan (OAC) derivatives with a degree of substitution (DS) between 0.02 and 0.28 were synthesized by reaction of alkanoic acid derivatives with chitosan in the presence of H₂SO₄ as a catalyst. The reaction was performed at 80 °C for 4 h with different mol ratios of alkanoic acids to chitosan. The synthesized compounds were analyzed by ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. A high DS was obtained with O-(butyroyl) chitosan (DS 0.28) at a mol ratio of (1:5) chitosan to butyric acid. Their fungicidal activity against the grey mould Botrytis cinerea (Leotiales: Sclerotiniaceae) and the rice leaf blast pathogen Pyricularia grisea (Teleomorph: Magnaportha grisea) has been evaluated. O-(decanoyl) chitosan at mol ratio of 1:2 (chitosan to decanoic acid) was the most active compound against B. cinerea (EC₅₀=1.02 g.l^-1) and O-(hexanoyl) chitosan displayed the highest activity against P. grisea (EC₅₀=1.11 g.l^-1). It has been mentioned that some derivatives also repressed spore formation at rather high concentrations (1.0, 2.0 and 5.0 g.l^-1). The insecticidal activity has been screened at 5 g.kg^-1 artificial diet against the larvae of the cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The results revealed that all of the synthesized derivatives showed high inhibition of growth of the larvae of S. littoralis compared to chitosan (7% growth inhibition) and the most active one was O-(decanoyl) chitosan (64% growth inhibition) after 5 days of feeding on treated artificial diet.     

Simultaneous assimilation and contrast effects in judgments of self and others.

Judgments of self and referent others tend to be positively related, as evident in the false consensus effect, but others may also be contrasted from the self, as noted in the false uniqueness literature. In 3 studies that examined the domains of attitudes and traits, evidence of both assimilative and contrastive associations between self- and other-judgments were noted, depending on the form of judgment (objective vs. subjective) and the relevant judgment scale anchor (self vs. others). When self-judgments were made first, objective appraisals of reference groups were contrasted from subjective self-appraisals (after controlling for individual differences in participants' behavioral reports). When judgments of others were made first, objective self-ratings were contrasted from subjective other-judgments. Implications for the false consensus literature and the shifting standards model (M. Biernat, M. Manis, & T. E. Nelson, 1991) are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evolution of the current-voltage characteristics of photoluminescing porous silicon during chemical etching

It has been established that chemical etching of porous silicon in HF results in a large change in the current-voltage characteristics and photoluminescence parameters of the silicon. The results of the investigation can be used to increase the efficiency of electroluminescence structures In-〈porous Si〉-Al by increasing the injection level of minority carriers and realizing a regime of double injection and high surface recombination rate near the surface of porous silicon. Fiz. Tekh. Poluprovodn. 31, 1414–1418 (December 1997)     

Meeting the Challenges of Restructuring

Italy's industrial districts have achieved great success in the post-war period, based on their tightly-knit disaggregated production systems spanning small firms specializing in different phases of the value chain. Where competitive strategies were focused on quality and innovation, rather than on minimizing production costs, the districts have flourished. This study examines the chair manufacturing district of Friuli, looking at how its “spontaneous” organization of production has been brought under severe competitive pressure, ancl the moves undeway to respond to these new global forces.     

A senior executive end-user framework

Senior executives make decisions about their organization's information technology (IT) budgets that often involve substantial expenditure. Yet, in terms of their own competence in using IT, there is evidence to suggest that they may not be the best members of the organization to make such decisions. This paper reports on a study of 85 senior executives across 16 large organizations and the depth and breath of applications these executives use to support them at an individual level. The research design and methodologies were based on the principles of grounded theory. The primary source of data collection was in-depth interviews. A number of end-user frameworks have been developed by previous authors; however, most are more pertinent to middle and junior managers. Based on the analysis of the data from this study an end-user framework is proposed that is more appropriate for senior executives.