Showing papers by "Ryerson University published in 2000"
TL;DR: The effects of fat crystals in food emulsion formation and stability are reviewed in this paper, including fat crystal wettability, interfacial rheology, crystal microstructure, and particle location.
388 citations
TL;DR: An application is presented of a generalized estimating equations (GEE) procedure to develop an APM that incorporates trend in accident data and the GEE model incorporating the time trend is shown to be superior to models that do not accommodate trend and/or the temporal correlation in accidentData.
Abstract: Accident prediction models (APMs) are useful tools for estimating the expected number of accidents on entities such as intersections and road sections. These estimates typically are used in the identification of sites for possible safety treatment and in the evaluation of such treatments. An APM is, in essence, a mathematical equation that expresses the average accident frequency of a site as a function of traffic flow and other site characteristics. The reliability of an APM estimate is enhanced if the APM is based on data for as many years as possible, especially if data for those same years are used in the safety analysis of a site. With many years of data, however, it is necessary to account for the year-to-year variation, or trend, in accident counts because of the influence of factors that change every year. To capture this variation, the count for each year is treated as a separate observation. Unfortunately, the disaggregation of the data in this manner creates a temporal correlation that presents...
280 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the extent to which retailers have taken advantage of the potential released by these developments, and adopted more "scientific" rules based methodologies is examined based on an extensive questionnaire survey of UK retailers conducted in 1998.
Abstract: Although formal techniques of locational analysis have been available for over 50 years, most retailers traditionally made no use of them, relying instead on intuition guided by experience and “common sense”. However, the simultaneous advent in the last 15 years of low cost computing and the increasing availability of retail related data of all types has given retailers the opportunity to take a much more rational approach to decision making. This paper examines the extent to which retailers have taken advantage of the potential released by these developments, and adopted more “scientific” rules based methodologies. The analysis is based on an extensive questionnaire survey of UK retailers conducted in 1998 which encompassed organisations operating altogether more than 50,000 outlets across eight sectors. The survey sought to identify the use made both of particular types of techniques, and of Geographical Information Systems, which act as a platform for them. It was complemented by a series of in‐depth interviews with location specialists in a number of major retail organisations.
203 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a new multiaxial fatigue parameter for in-phase and out-of-phase straining is proposed, which is the sum of the normal energy range and the shear energy range calculated for the critical plane on which the stress and strain Mohr's circles are the largest during the loading and unloading parts of a cycle.
176 citations
TL;DR: This paper examined the impact of perceived economic competition with immigrants on support for empowering and non-empowering forms of assistance for immigrants, and found that people higher in social dominance orientation were less willing to endorse empowerment for immigrants than were people lower.
Abstract: Based on models of intergroup competition and social dominance, we examined the impact of perceived economic competition with immigrants on support for empowering and non-empowering forms of assistance for immigrants. In Study 1, a manipulation of perceived economic competition with immigrants caused attenuated support for empowerment but not for non-empowering forms of help. In Study 2, people higher in social dominance orientation were less willing to endorse empowerment for immigrants than were people lower in social dominance orientation, and this relation was mediated by the belief that economic and power gains for immigrants result in economic and power losses for members of host populations. It is suggested that people’s desire to maintain a discrepancy in economic and power resources between immigrants and host populations undermines support for empowering forms of help for immigrants.
166 citations
TL;DR: The authors examined the nature of students' expectations about university, and their relation with adjustment in university, in a longitudinal investigation, and identified four distinct types of expectation about university: optimistic, prepared, fearful, and complacent.
Abstract: The nature of students' expectations about university, and their relation with adjustment in university, were examined in a longitudinal investigation. Prior to starting university, participants responded to open-ended questions regarding their expectations about university. At this time, and during their 1st, 2nd, and 4th years of study, measures of adjustment were completed. Four distinct types of expectations about university were identified: optimistic, prepared, fearful, and complacent. Students whose expectations were fearful reported more stress, depression, and poorer university adjustment than did individuals with other types of expectations, particularly prepared. Moreover, group differences in university adjustment existed throughout students' 4 years at university, and were not attributable to self-reported previous levels of personal adjustment or academic achievement.
131 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a review of fiber-optic biosensors with a specific focus on fiberoptic sensors is provided, where the authors highlight the importance of optical transducers in the development of the biosensor.
Abstract: A review of biosensor technology with a specific focus on fiber-optic biosensors is provided. With the advent of optical transducers, better electronics, and improved immobilization methods, fiber-optic biosensors are being increasingly applied to industrial process and environmental monitoring, food processing, and clinical applications. The vitality of the fiber-optics-based biosensing can be seen from the growing number of publications. In summary, fiber-optic biosensors will play a significant role in the development of biosensors because they can be easily miniaturized and integrated for the determination of different target compounds. Industrial collaboration is needed to speed up progress from the research bench, to the field-study stage, and finally commercialization.
123 citations
TL;DR: The experience in transforming research data into a dramatic production, Handle with Care?
Abstract: Research-based theatre represents an innovative approach to disseminating the results of qualitative studies In this paper, we provide a rationale for the importance of research-based theatre and also review previous work that has been done in the area We then describe our experience in transforming research data into a dramatic production, Handle with Care? This production was based on two studies - one with women with metastatic breast cancer, and the other with medical oncologists treating breast cancer patients Results from ongoing assessment of the project are reported We discuss some of the factors related to the success of Handle with Care? and reflect on what has been learned about the process of developing dramatic pieces related to serious illness
107 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors employ systems-based cointegration techniques developed by Johansen (1988, 1995) to determine which European Union countries would form a successful economic and monetary Union (EMU), based on long-run behavior of the nominal convergence criteria laid down in the Maastricht treaty.
97 citations
TL;DR: The results suggest that bacterial induction of apoptosis offers an advantage for bacterial attachment by augmenting outer leaflet levels of the phosphatidylethanolamine receptor.
Abstract: Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) is a gastrointestinal pathogen that causes watery diarrhea and hemorrhagic colitis and can lead to serious and even fatal complications such as hemolytic uremic syndrome. We investigated the ability of EHEC to kill host cells using three human epithelial cell lines. Analysis of phosphatidylserine expression, internucleosomal cleavage of host cell DNA and morphological changes detected by electron microscopy changes revealed evidence of apoptotic cell death. The rates and extents of cell death were similar for both verotoxin-producing and nonproducing strains of EHEC as well as for a related gastrointestinal pathogen, enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC). The induction of apoptosis by bacterial attachment was independent of verotoxin production and greater than that produced by a similar treatment with verotoxin alone. Expression of phosphatidylethanolamine, previously reported to bind EHEC and EPEC, was also increased on apoptotic cells but with little correlation to phosphatidylserine expression. Phosphatidylethanolamine levels but not phosphatidylserine levels on dying cells correlated with EHEC binding. Cells treated with phosphatidylethanolamine-containing liposomes also showed increased EHEC binding. These results suggest that bacterial induction of apoptosis offers an advantage for bacterial attachment by augmenting outer leaflet levels of the phosphatidylethanolamine receptor.
86 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a simple model evaluating the critical moisture content was developed; the first one is a fraction of the permanent wilting point; the second one is linear function dependent on clay mass fraction.
Abstract: An analysis of soil thermal conductivity data shows that, at very low moisture content, this property first varies insignificantly and then begins to increase from a certain critical moisture content, whose value tends to depend on clay mass fraction. Two simple models evaluating the critical moisture content were developed; the first one is a fraction of the permanent wilting point; the second one is a simple linear function dependent on clay mass fraction. An insignificant variation of soil thermal conductivity is observed at 20°C, within a water pressure head ranging from 1 × 103 to 1 × 103 m, while for higher temperatures (45–50°C) from 5000 to 100000 m. Three extensions of the enhanced thermal conductivity model by Sundberg, namely SUN-1, SUN-2 and SUN-3, were proposed and tested. They produce an average root mean square error of 27%, 24% and 30%, respectively, with respect to experimental data. SUN-1and SUN-2 predictions could be further improved if better estimates of thermal conductivity at the dry state and the permanent wilting point were provided. SUN-3 is a simple model which does not require information about the PWP and critical moisture content. All SUN models have a potential for implementing the latent heat transfer component.
TL;DR: The anticancer effect of flaxseed and SDG may be related, in part, to reductions in plasma IGF-I, which was reduced in MNU-treated rats.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the growth and impact of power centers and "big-box" retailers through the 1990s in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and revealed that 72% of big boxes were added in the previous nine years and that twice as many opened in the suburban fringe as compared to the equally populated central area.
TL;DR: A nonlinear mathematical model was developed and experimentally validated to investigate the effects of changes in optical properties during interstitial laser photocoagulation (ILP) and suggests that the Arrhenius model can be used to predict dynamic changes in Optical and thermal fields.
Abstract: A nonlinear mathematical model was developed and experimentally validated to investigate the effects of changes in optical properties during interstitial laser photocoagulation (ILP). The effects of dynamic optical properties were calculated using the Arrhenius damage model, resulting in a nonlinear optothermal response. This response was experimentally validated by measuring the temperature rise in albumen and polyacrylamide phantoms. A theoretical study of ILP in liver was conducted constraining the peak temperatures below the vaporization threshold. The temperature predictions varied considerably between the static and dynamic scenarios, and were confirmed experimentally in phantoms. This suggests that the Arrhenius model can be used to predict dynamic changes in optical and thermal fields. An increase in temperature rise due to a decrease in light penetration within the coagulated region during ILP of the liver was also demonstrated. The kinetics of ILP are complex and nonlinear due to coagulation, which changes the tissue properties during treatment. These complex effects can be adequately modelled using an Arrhenius damage formulation.
01 Sep 2000
TL;DR: Multimedia Image and Video Processing offers not only state-of-the-art research and developments, but does so in a way that provides a solid introduction to each topic and builds a basis for future study, research, and development.
Abstract: From the Publisher:
Multimedia stands as one of the most challenging and excitingaspects of the information era. Although there are books available that deal with various facets of multimedia, the field has urgently needed a comprehensive look at recent developments in the systems, processing, and applications of image and video data in a multimedia environment.
Multimedia Image and Video Processing fills that need. Beginning with existing standards and their impact on multimedia image and video processing, experts from around the world address a broad spectrum of topics in a tutorial style.
Their authoritative contributions cover the pros and cons of current and new architectures, conventional and intelligent image processing techniques, new developments in the compression and coding of video and images, and content-based image and video retrieval. The book's final chapters examine new results in multimedia applications, including transcoding for multipoint video conferencing, distance education, video-on-demand and telemedicine.
The extremely rapid growth of this field means that books even just a few years old may offer information that is already obsolete. Multimedia Image and Video Processing offers not only state-of-the-art research and developments, but does so in a way that provides a solid introduction to each topic and builds a basis for future study, research, and development.
TL;DR: Aqueous phenol was ozonated for the first time at pH over 12.5 in this paper, and it was found that the apparent first-order rate constant of phenol ozonation decreased logarithmically with increasing initial phenol concentration.
TL;DR: This paper assessed the relationship between personal religious motivation and spontaneous thoughts about one's nation, and found that intrinsic religious motivation was associated with the endorsement of ideological components of the nation's dominant self-stereotype.
Abstract: To assess the relationship between personal religious motivation and spontaneous thoughts about one’s nation, Canadian and American undergraduates completed a measure of religious orientation, and both listed and rated the importance of self-generated thoughts about their respective countries. Among Americans, intrinsic orientation predicted greater ascribed importance to the national heritage (e.g., freedom, equal opportunity, tradition, and family) and to official national symbols such as the flag. Among Canadians, intrinsic orientation predicted greater ascribed importance to multiculturalism, but was unrelated to the enshrining of national symbols. Thus, in both cases, intrinsic religion was associated with the endorsement of ideological components of the nation’s dominant self-stereotype.
TL;DR: Results indicate that postpartum care augmented with individualized professional support commenced in the hospital and continued in the community significantly increases the duration of breastfeeding among women who identify themselves as being without support for the first month post partum.
Abstract: A trial was conducted with 51 women randomly assigned either to a conventional nursing care group or to an individualized professional support group to examine the effect of professional support on breastfeeding status at 4 weeks postpartum. All participants identified themselves as having no prior support. At 4 weeks postpartum, 17 out of 25 (68%) and 26 out of 26 (100%) women in the control and intervention groups, respectively, continued to breastfeed (P = .005). Results indicate that postpartum care augmented with individualized professional support commenced in the hospital and continued in the community significantly increases the duration of breastfeeding among women who identify themselves as being without support for the first month postpartum.
TL;DR: Intrinsic orientation predicted increased religious self-stereotyping only when feedback was threatening and important to religious group membership; affective and behavioural indices revealed a similar pattern.
Abstract: That religion is an impactful social category has often been assumed but seldom tested. Based on social identity and self-categorization theories, it is argued that devout religious commitment reflects, at least in part, an individual's motivation to engage in religious self-stereotyping (i.e. to perceive oneself as an exemplary religious group member). In order to test this analysis, individuals scoring high or low on a measure of intrinsic religious orientation received false feedback that either threatened or bolstered their self-perceptions on a dimension of behaviour that was either important or not important to religious group membership. As expected, intrinsic orientation predicted increased religious self-stereotyping only when feedback was threatening and important to religious group membership; affective and behavioural indices revealed a similar pattern. Implications for the social identity/self-categorization literature, and for theory development in the psychology of religion, are subsequently discussed.
TL;DR: The proposed method of color image segmentation is very effective in segmenting a multimedia-type image into regions by comparing these seed pixels to neighboring pixels using the cylindrical distance metric.
Abstract: Image segmentation is crucial for multimedia applications. Multimedia databases utilize segmentation for the storage and indexing of images and video. Image segmentation is used for object tracking in the new MPEG-7 video compression standard. It is also used in video conferencing for compression and coding purposes. These are only some of the multimedia applications in image segmentation. It is usually the first task of any image analysis process, and thus, subsequent tasks rely heavily on the quality of segmentation. The proposed method of color image segmentation is very effective in segmenting a multimedia-type image into regions. Pixels are first classified as either chromatic or achromatic depending on their HSI color values. Next, a seed determination algorithm finds seed pixels that are in the center of regions. These seed pixels are used in the region growing step to grow regions by comparing these seed pixels to neighboring pixels using the cylindrical distance metric. Merging regions that are similar in color is a final means used for segmenting the image into even smaller regions.
TL;DR: An empirical Bayes-based procedure is presented for prioritizing potential treatment sites on the basis of crashes that may be classified as occurring because of the presence of curves.
Abstract: Curve-warning treatment can be extremely cost-effective because of the low cost of treatments, such as curve warning signs or markings, and the potentially large number of target crashes. However, measures are needed to identify and prioritize treatment of potentially hazardous rural curves. An empirical Bayes-based procedure is presented for prioritizing potential treatment sites on the basis of crashes that may be classified as occurring because of the presence of curves. The attractiveness of the procedure is enhanced by the fact that the data and calculations are also a part of the evaluation of treatment that may be applied to sites identified. Alternative levels of the procedure can be selected, depending on the data available. Ontario data were used to calibrate supporting models. It is hoped that experience gained from using the guidelines can lead to the development of procedures that can be incorporated into the U.S. Department of Transportation's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
TL;DR: In this paper, a computer simulator for homopolymerization of styrene using bifunctional initiators is presented, where a wide variety of bifimctional peroxides used in polystyrene production are developed along with a database for twelve new monofimctionally initiators.
Abstract: Monofunctional and bifunctional peroxides are extensively utilized in the production of polystyrene. However, their decomposition kinetics is still an important area to investigate. A computer package developed previously by Gao and Penlidis (1996), which was based on mono-fimctionally initiated polymerization, is extended in this study to cover homopolymerization of styrene using bifunctional initiators. A database of a wide variety of bifimctional peroxides used in polystyrene production is developed along with a database for twelve new monofimctional initiators. The package handles several different scenarios of styrene polymerization, whether it is in bulk / solution or isothermal / non-isothermal medium. The model is tested with a wide range of conversion and average molecular weight data either from the literature or available from industry. Simulation results agree with the data trends, which makes the simulator a very powerful tool in aid of initiator selection and evaluation. At the end o...
TL;DR: To determine "what is normal" from the perspective of the person with the disability, a 6-day summer camp for 17 children with chronic, severe, life-threatening physical disabilities was conducted.
Abstract: Normalization refers to behaviors and intentions of the disabled to integrate into society by living life as do those without a disability. Although normal is assumed to be a desired state, the concept has not been explored from the perspective of disabled children and mothers and other family members. The objective of this study is to determine "what is normal" from the perspective of the person with the disability. Participant observation was conducted in a 6-day summer camp for 17 children with chronic, severe, life-threatening physical disabilities. The children normally received home care and were ventilator dependent. Data consisted of observations, field notes, photographs, and videos. To obtain data about the children's home life, audiotaped telephone interviews with their primary caregiver (16 mothers and 1 father) were conducted before and after the camp. This group had two distinct social reference groups: the "disabled world" of the disabled-as-normal and the "outside" world of the everyday-as-normal. Mothers identified with both reference groups according to the child's needs, abilities and capabilities, and the risk involved. Children with disabilities who normalize compare their abilities and capabilities to identify both within a disabled world ("like me") and the outside world, according to their needs. Normalization includes processes of identification with both the cultural dominant perceived as normal (with whom these children could identify cognitively) and handicapped children (with whom these children could identify both physically and cognitively).
01 Jul 2000
TL;DR: The PEBBLES communication system, designed to link children in the hospital with their regular classrooms, has progressed through three major development and evaluation phases and has been successful in providing students with a high level of telepresence in their classrooms.
Abstract: The PEBBLES communication system, designed to link children in the hospital with their regular classrooms, has progressed through three major development and evaluation phases. Many of the design and human factors issues (e.g., daily curriculum planning and co-ordination between two teachers in distant locations, and the need for an appropriate attention device) discovered through this process are unique from other video-mediated communication systems because PEBBLES must support both academic and social tasks with children as users. While technical limitations such as bandwidth and audio fidelity remain as problems to solve with PEBBLES, the system has been successful in providing students with a high level of telepresence in their classrooms.
TL;DR: A reliability method is presented, based on AASHTO, that does not rely on extreme values but instead considers the moments of the probability distribution of each random variable and accounts for correlations among the component random variables.
Abstract: The intersection sight distance (ISD) design presented by AASHTO is based on extreme values of the component design variables such as design speed, perception-reaction time (a high percentile), and friction coefficient (a low percentile). A reliability method is presented, based on AASHTO, that does not rely on extreme values but instead considers the moments (mean and variance) of the probability distribution of each random variable. The method also accounts for correlations among the component random variables. In Cases I and II of AASHTO, the variations of the sight distance along both legs of the intersection are considered for both design and evaluation. For evaluation (involving an exiting obstruction), these variations are combined into a single variable that determines whether the corresponding sight line is obstructed. In Case III, only the sight distance leg along the major road has variations. The proposed method is straightforward and involves simple, closed-form mathematics for calculating sight distance and associated reliability. Sensitivity of ISD to various design variables is examined. ISD reliability-based values for various cases are presented from data reported in the literature, and results are compared with current AASHTO design values.
TL;DR: In this article, the thermodynamic performance of an encapsulated ice thermal energy storage (ITES) system for cooling capacity is assessed using exergy and energy analyses, and the results demonstrate that energy analysis leads to misleadingly optimistic statements of ITES efficiency.
Abstract: The thermodynamic performance of an encapsulated ice thermal energy storage (ITES) system for cooling capacity is assessed using exergy and energy analyses. A full cycle, with charging, storing, and discharging stages, is considered. The results demonstrate how exergy analysis provides a more realistic and meaningful assessment than the more conventional energy analysis of the efficiency and performance of an ITES system. The overall energy and exergy efficiencies are 99.5 and 50.9 percent, respectively. The average exergy efficiencies for the charging, discharging, and storing periods are 86, 60, and over 99 percent respectively, while the average energy efficiency for each of these periods exceeds 99 percent. These results indicate that energy analysis leads to misleadingly optimistic statements of ITES efficiency. The results should prove useful to engineers and designers seeking to improve and optimize ITES systems.
TL;DR: In this paper, the degradation of tetrahydrofuran, 1,4-dioxane, and their mixture in a slurry pho- toreactor was studied.
Abstract: Photocatalytic degradation of tetrahydrofuran, 1,4-dioxane, and their mixture in a slurry pho- toreactor was studied. Using both GC/MS and ion chromatography (IC) methods, possible intermediates were detected and the reaction mechanism pathways for both compounds were proposed. Kinetic models were developed and the kinetic parameters were estimated using a statistical method of non-linear parameter es- timation in which all experimental data were utilized. It was shown that tetrahydrofuran was disappeared via direct oxidation as well as hydroxyl radical attack. A modified Langmuir-Hinshelwood described the degrada- tion behavior of tetrahydrofuran and the binary system. 1,4-Dioxane obeyed a simple Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic form in the single compound system.
TL;DR: A novel de-noising method for improving the signal-to-noise ratio of knee-joint vibration signals (VAG) signals is proposed, based on signal decomposition techniques, such as wavelets, wavelet packets and the matching pursuit (MP) method.
Abstract: A novel de-noising method for improving the signal-to-noise ratio of knee-joint vibration signals (also known as vibro-arthrographic (VAG) signals) is proposed. The de-noising methods considered are based on signal decomposition techniques, such as wavelets, wavelet packets and the matching pursuit (MP) method. Performance evaluation with synthetic signals simulated with the characteristics expected of VAG signals indicates good de-noising results with the MP method. Statistical pattern classification of non-stationary signal features extracted from time-frequency distributions of 37 (19 normal and 18 abnormal) MP method-de-noised VAG signals shows a sensitivity of 83.3%, a specificity of 84.2% and an overall accuracy of 83.8%.
TL;DR: In this article, the development of the Kersten function (Ke) is described, which depends on soil temperature and the degree of saturation, and it enables the prediction of thermal conductivities of moist soils also including high temperatures.
Abstract: This paper describes the development of the Kersten function (Ke), which depends on soil temperature and the degree of saturation. The new Kersten function enables the prediction of thermal conductivities of moist soils also including high temperatures. The eight soils used in this paper represent three distinct textural groups, each having a comparable shape of Kersten function. The soil thermal conductivity is obtained from a linear interpolation between the dryness and saturation states with the Ke as the slope. The new Kersten function is valid when the degree of saturation (Sr) is greater than 0.125 and soil temperature is between 30 and 90°C. At a lower degree of saturation (i.e. 0
TL;DR: In this article, a ternary complex involving naphthalene, cyclodextrin and 1-pentanol was shown to form in the presence of linear or branched alcohols.
Abstract: Naphthalene forms 1 : 1 complexes with -cyclodextrin (-CD) in water. The binding constant is 377 35 M 1 . Addition of linear or branched alcohols causes a reduction in the ap- parent strength of naphthalene binding (Kapp) compared to the value in the absence of additives. For example, 1% 1-pentanol reducesKapp to 184 31 M 1 . Branching does not alter Kapp much for a given number of carbon atoms, e.g., it is 113 9M 1 for 2-pentanol and 116 8M 1 for 3-pentanol. The exception to this is tert-butanol for which Kapp is 577 40 M 1 . The variation in Kapp as a function of (1-pentanol) yields values for the individual equilibrium constants con- tributing to Kapp. This reveals that a ternary complex forms involving naphthalene, the CD and 1-pentanol. The constant for formation of the ternary complex is 99 29 M 2 . NaI quenching of naphthalene fluorescence indicates that the CD cavity partially protects the naphthalene excited state from this water phase quencher. Interestingly, the Stern-Volmer constant is lower in the presence of 1-pentanol than in its absence, although there should be more unbound (and therefore more NaI accessible) naphthalene in the former system than in the latter. These apparently contradictory results are discussed in terms of ternary complex formation.