726 research outputs found

    The Impact of Stimulus Age on Emotional Face Recognition

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    Research supports the theory that stimuli, including experiences, words, and faces, with an emotional connotation are more easily remembered than stimuli with a more neutral connotation. The scientific community has expanded this theory by manipulating a variety of variables, including participant age, time between encoding and retrieval, and “taboo” words in comparison to more neutral categories, to name a few. The current study seeks to expand upon the previous findings by examining emotional and neutral facial stimuli while manipulating the age of the stimulus face. To do this, participants were shown 10 photos in each of the following categories: young neutral, young angry, young smiling, old neutral, old angry, and old smiling faces. Each image was shown for 2.5 seconds, followed by a 1-second blank screen. After the stimuli were shown, participants took a recall test to determine which category had the highest recall accuracy. After analyzing the data, researchers found that there was a main effect between the recall accuracy of old happy and old angry faces. More specifically, participants were more likely to remember the faces in the old happy category than they were in the old angry category. In regard to the main hypothesis, there was no main effect between the recall accuracy rate of young emotional (smiling and angry) and old emotional faces. While the results were not significant, the findings help further the field in that researchers now know how to better guide the participants rather than allowing them to take the survey independently. Future studies can replicate this study in a laboratory setting to better understand the true effect of old and young facial memorability

    ASSESSING THE THEORETICAL CORRELATES OF SEXUAL AND PHYSICAL VICTIMIZATION IN ADULTHOOD

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    As research on victimization continues to adapt, scholars have begun to examine how certain variables in childhood affect the likelihood of being victimized in adulthood—much of which is focused on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Studying the impact of early experiences on later victimization outcomes is important for the field so practitioners can intervene early in an individual’s life before they experience further trauma. However, past research has neglected to use a comprehensive approach (e.g., using multiple theoretical frameworks, assessing the frequency of ACE occurrences). The current study addresses these gaps in the literature by assessing the impact of variables related to three frameworks on adulthood sexual and physical assault victimization: (1) state dependence theory, (2) population heterogeneity theory, and (3) target congruence theory. The respondents answered the ACE indicator questions using a Likert scale ranging from “never” to “very often.” Because of the varying frequencies, these answers were coded in two ways: (1) a more conservative approach in which only answers of “often” and “very often” were coded as “yes” for having experienced, and (2) a more inclusive approach in which answers of “rarely,” “sometimes,” “often,” and “very often” were coded as “yes” for having experienced. Both of these coding variations were examined in model estimations to determine whether they affected the substantive findings. Data were analyzed from an online survey administered by YouGov and completed by a national sample of adults (N = 1,693). Findings indicated support for all three theories. Factors related to state dependence theory (i.e., child sexual abuse), population heterogeneity theory (i.e., substance use), and target congruence theory (i.e., physical neglect, having an incarcerated family member, being Black or Hispanic) were positively correlated with both sexual and physical assault victimization in adulthood. Some variables, namely running away before age 18, were associated with adult sexual victimization only, while others, including impulsivity, substances in the home, and relying on strangers, were associated with adult physical victimization only. Regarding coding variations, some of these variables (i.e., substances in the home, physical neglect, having an incarcerated family member) were correlated with both sexual and physical assault victimization for just one of the ACE coding variations, while others (i.e., child sexual abuse, substance use) were correlated with both sexual and physical assault victimization regardless of the ACE coding variation. These findings provide direction for future research, such as using multiple theoretical approaches and coding ACEs with different variations, as well as guide future policymaking in the area of childhood trauma and adult victimization

    Toward An Empirical Taxonomy and Model of Evolution for Telecommunications Technologies

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    A major group of information technologies pervading businesses in the 1990s are communication-based technologies. Given the diversity and complexity of these technologies, it is surprising that they have been the subject of precious little empirical research. This study examines the use of these technologies in American businesses. The data suggest preliminary patterns along which these technologies can be structured to facilitate both practice and research

    Electron Paramagnetic Resonance and Electron Spin Echo Studies of Co2+ Coordination by Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+) in Water Solution

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    Co(2+) binding to the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)) molecule in water solution was studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and electron spin echo at low temperatures. Cobalt is coordinated by NAD(+) when the metal is in excess only, but even in such conditions, the Co/NAD(+) complexes coexist with Co(H(2)O)(6) complexes. EPR spin-Hamiltonian parameters of the Co/NAD(+) complex at 6 K are g(z) = 2.01, g(x) = 2.38, g(y) = 3.06, A(z) = 94 × 10(−4) cm(−1), A(x) = 33 × 10(−4) cm(−1) and A(y) = 71 × 10(−4) cm(−1). They indicate the low-spin Co(2+) configuration with S = 1/2. Electron spin echo envelope modulation spectroscopy with Fourier transform of the modulated spin echo decay shows a strong coordination by nitrogen atoms and excludes the coordination by phosphate and/or amide groups. Thus, Co(2+) ion is coordinated in pseudo-tetrahedral geometry by four nitrogen atoms of adenine rings of two NAD(+) molecules

    Marketing Communication

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    Empirical research in the USA and the Asia Pacific suggests that the occasions of miscommunication far outnumber the occasions where communication has been interpreted in the way that it was intended. Though the data is vastly different from region to region and particularly when cross-continental communication has taken place, there are very few cases where attendees to a marketing conference were concluding similar outcomes. It appears that the communication gap is particularly wide when the cultural differences between the communicator and the recipients of the communication, are from the different cultural background. For example delegates from the USA attending a marketing conference in Japan and vice versa

    Marketing Communication

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    Empirical research in the USA and the Asia Pacific suggests that the occasions of miscommunication far outnumber the occasions where communication has been interpreted in the way that it was intended. Though the data is vastly different from region to region and particularly when cross-continental communication has taken place, there are very few cases where attendees to a marketing conference were concluding similar outcomes. It appears that the communication gap is particularly wide when the cultural differences between the communicator and the recipients of the communication, are from the different cultural background. For example delegates from the USA attending a marketing conference in Japan and vice versa

    Ground vegetation biomass detection for fire prediction from remote sensing data in the lowveld region

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    Student Number : 0310612G - MSc research report - School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies - Faculty of ScienceWildfire prediction and management is an issue of safety and security for many rural communities in South Africa. Wildfire prediction and early warning systems can assist in saving lives, infrastructure and valuable resources in these communities. Timely and accurate data are required for accurate wildfire prediction on both weather conditions and the availability of fuels (vegetation) for wildfires. Wildfires take place in large remote areas in which land use practices and alterations to land cover cannot easily be modelled. Remote sensing offers the opportunity to monitor the extent and changes of land use practices and land cover in these areas. In order for effective fire prediction and management, data on the quantity and state of fuels is required. Traditional methods for detecting vegetation rely on the chlorophyll content and moisture of vegetation for vegetation mapping techniques. Fuels that burn in wildfires are however predominantly dry, and by implication are low in chlorophyll and moisture contents. As a result, these fuels cannot be detected using traditional indices. Other model based methods for determining above ground vegetation biomass using satellite data have been devised. These however require ancillary data, which are unavailable in many rural areas in South Africa. A method is therefore required for the detection and quantification of dry fuels that pose a fire risk. ASTER and MAS (MODIS Airborne Simulator) imagery were obtained for a study area within the Lowveld region of the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Two of the ASTER and two of the MAS images were dated towards the end of the dry season (winter) when the quantity of fuel (dry vegetation) is at its highest. The remaining ASTER image was obtained during the middle of the wet season (summer), against which the results could be tested. In situ measurements of above ground biomass were obtained from a large number of collection points within the image footprints. Normalised Difference Vegetation Index and Transformed Vegetation Index vegetation indices were calculated and tested against the above ground biomass for the dry and wet season images. Spectral response signatures of dry vegetation were evaluated to select wavelengths, which may be effective at detecting dry vegetation as opposed to green vegetation. Ratios were calculated using the respective bandwidths of the ASTER and MAS sensors and tested against above ground biomass to detect dry vegetation. The findings of this study are that it is not feasible, using ASTER and MAS remote sensing data, to estimate brown and green vegetation biomass for wildfire prediction purposes using the datasets and research methodology applied in this study. Correlations between traditional vegetation indices and above ground biomass were weak. Visual trends were noted, however no conclusive evidence could be established from this relationship. The dry vegetation ratios indicated a weak correlation between the values. The removal of background noise, in particular soil reflectance, may result in more effective detection of dry vegetation. Time series analysis of the green vegetation indices might prove a more effective predictor of biomass fuel loads. The issues preventing the frequent and quick transmission of the large data sets required are being solved with the improvements in internet connectivity to many remote areas and will probably be a more viable path to solving this problem in the near future

    Marketing Inspired Branding

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    Departing from the conventional citations of widely published material and application instructions. These entries are narratives of actual incidents that allow the reader to discover applicable insights. Part of a series of articles on the subject of marketing-inspired branding. A less practiced method of arriving at products and services concepts. Unlike the conventional retrospective analysis of what has happened in the marketplace, these observations are by and large based on groundbreaking initiatives in Asian Agriculture projects and education concept for African Public Administration bureaus. The implications are that these insights are adaptable to any market

    Ein Integrations- und Darstellungsmodell fĂŒr verteilte und heterogene kontextbezogene Informationen

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    Die "KontextsensitivitĂ€t" genannte systematische BerĂŒcksichtigung von Umweltinformationen durch Anwendungssysteme kann als Querschnittsfunktion im betrieblichen Umfeld in vielen Bereichen einen Nutzen stiften. Wirklich praxistaugliche kontextsensitive Anwendungssysteme, die sich analog zu einem mitdenkenden menschlichen Assistenten harmonisch in die ablaufenden VorgĂ€nge in der Realwelt einbringen, haben einen enormen Bedarf nach umfassenden, d.h. diverse Aspekte der Realwelt beschreibenden Kontextinformationen, die jedoch prinzipbedingt verteilt in verschiedenen Datenquellen, etwa Kontexterfassungssystemen, EndgerĂ€ten sowie prinzipiell auch in beliebigen anderen, z.T. bereits existierenden Anwendungen entstehen. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist die Verringerung der KomplexitĂ€t des Beschaffungsvorganges von verteilten und heterogenen Kontextinformationen durch Bereitstellung einer einfach verwendbaren Methode zur Darstellung eines umfassenden, aus verteilten und heterogenen Datenquellen zusammengetragenen Kontextmodells. Im Besonderen werden durch diese Arbeit zwei Probleme addressiert, zum einen daß ein Konsument von umfassenden Kontextinformationen mehrere Datenquellen sowohl kennen und zugreifen können und zum anderen ĂŒber die zwischen den einzelnen Kontextinformationen in verschiedenen Datenquellen existierenden, zunĂ€chst nicht modellierten semantischen Verbindungen Bescheid wissen muß. Das dazu entwickelte Kontextinformationsintegrations- und -darstellungsverfahren kombiniert daher ein die Beschaffung und Integration von Kontextinformationen aus diversen Datenquellen modellierendes Informationsintegrationsmodell mit einem Kontextdarstellungsmodell, welches die abzubildende RealweltdomĂ€ne basierend auf ontologischen Informationen durch in problemspezifischer Weise erweiterte Verfahren des Semantic Web in einer möglichst intuitiven, wiederverwendbaren und modularen Weise modelliert. Nach einer fundierten Anforderungsanalyse des entwickelten Prinzips wird dessen Verwendung und Nutzen basierend auf der Skizzierung der wichtigsten allgemeinen Verwendungsmöglichkeiten von Kontextinformationen im betrieblichen Umfeld anhand eines komplexen betrieblichen Anwendungsszenarios demonstriert. Dieses beinhaltet ein Nutzerprofil, das von diversen Anwendungen, u.a. einem kontextsensitiven KFZ-Navigationssystem, einer Restaurantsuchanwendung sowie einem TouristenfĂŒhrer verwendet wird. Probleme hinsichtlich des Datenschutzes, der Integration in existierende Umgebungen und AblĂ€ufe sowie der Skalierbarkeit und LeistungsfĂ€higkeit des Verfahrens werden ebenfalls diskutiert.Context-awareness, which is the systematic consideration of information from the environment of applications, can provide significant benefits in the area of business and technology. To be really useful, i.e. harmonically support real-world processes as human assistants do it, practical applications need a comprehensive and detailed contextual information base that describes all relevant aspects of the real world. As a matter of principle, comprehensive contextual information arises in many places and data sources, e.g. in context-aware infrastructures as well as in "normal" applications, which may have knowledge about the context based on their functionality to support a certain process in the real world. This thesis facilitates the use of contextual information by reducing the complexity of the procurement process of distributed and heterogenous contextual information. Particularly, it addresses the two problems that a consumer of comprehensive contextual information needs to be aware of and able to access several different data sources and must know how to combine the contextual information taken from different and isolated data sources into a meaningful representation of the context. Especially the latter information cannot be modelled using the current state of the art. These problems are addressed by the development of an integration and representation model for contextual information that allows to compose comprehensive context models using information inside distributed and heterogeneous data sources. This model combines an information integration model for distributed and heterogenous information (which consists of an access model for heterogeneous data sources, an integration model and an information relation model) with a representation model for context that formalizes the representation of the respective real world domain, i.e. of the real world objects and their semantic relations in an intuitive, reusable and modular way based on ontologies. The resulting model consists of five layers that represent different aspects of the information integration solution. The achievement of the objectives is rated based on a requirement analysis of the problem domain. The technical feasibility and usefulness of the model is demonstrated by the implementation of an engine to support the approach as well as a complex application scenario consisting of a user profile that integrates information from several data sources and a couple of context-aware applications, e.g. a context-aware navigation system, a restaurant finder application as well as an enhanced tourist guide that use the user profile. Problems regarding security and social effects, the integration of this solution into existing environments and infrastructures as well as technical issues like the scalability and performance of this model are discussed too

    Marketing Inspired Branding

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    Departing from the conventional citations of widely published material and application instructions. These entries are narratives of actual incidents that allow the reader to discover applicable insights. Part of a series of articles on the subject of marketing-inspired branding. A less practiced method of arriving at products and services concepts. Unlike the conventional retrospective analysis of what has happened in the marketplace, these observations are by and large based on groundbreaking initiatives in Asian Agriculture projects and education concept for African Public Administration bureaus. The implications are that these insights are adaptable to any market
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