An efficient algorithm for constructing Bayesian optimal choice designs.

Recently, Kessels et al. (2006) developed a way to produce Bayesian G- and V-optimal designs for the multinomial logitmodel. These designs allow for precise response predictions which is the goal of conjoint choice experiments. The authors showed that the G- and V- optimality criteria outperform the D- and A-optimality criteria for prediction. However, their G- and V-optimal design algorithm is computationally intensive, which is a barrier to its use in practice. In this paper, we present an efficient algorithm for calculating Bayesian optimal designs by means of the different criteria. Particularly, the speed of computation for the V-optimality criterion has improved dramatically.The new algorithm makes it possible to use Bayesian D-, A-, G- and V-optimal designs that are tailored to individual respondents in computerized conjoint choice studies.Adaptive algorithm; Bayesian D-,A-,G- and V-optimality; Cholesky decomposition; Conjoint choice design; Coordinate-exchange; Conjoint choice experiments;

Investigation into the hardbean phenomenon in phaseolus vulgaris L.

The textural deterioration of dry beans during storage was investigated. The primary symptoms of this hardbean phenomenon were found to be reduced viability, reduced water uptake and reduced cooking rate. It was found that the basic cause of the beans failing to cook - or soften - was the failure of the cotyledon cells to separate during the cooking process. From these initial observations it was hypothesised that reduced cell separation rate was due to either reduced turgor pressure due to reduced water uptake, or reduced pectin solubility, or both. Techniques used included light microscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, thin-layer chromatography and spectrophotometry and it was found that reduced cell separation rate was due to a combination of both reduced water uptake and reduced pectin solubility. By inducing the hardbean symptoms artificially their relevance to textural deterioration were determined. The significant events within the beans during storage were found to be phytin breakdown, membrane deterioration, cation leakage, pectin demethylation and pectin calcification. By running a storage trial and thus allowing hardness to develop within the beans the sequence of events was elucidated

Sexual and physical abuse and depressive symptoms in the UK Biobank.

BackgroundThe association between sexual and physical abuse and subsequent depression is well-established, but the associations with specific depressive symptoms and sex differences remain relatively understudied. We investigated the associations of sexual and physical abuse with depressive symptoms in men and women in a large population cohort.MethodsObservational study based on 151,396 UK Biobank participants. Exposures included self-reported experiences of childhood physical abuse and sexual abuse. Mid-life outcomes included current depressive symptoms score, individual depressive symptoms, and lifetime depression. We used logistic regression to test associations of childhood sexual/physical abuse with depressive outcomes.ResultsRecalled childhood sexual and physical abuse were both associated with current depressive symptoms score in adults. Results for individual symptoms-based analyses suggest that sexual and physical abuse are associated with all depressive symptoms, particularly suicidal behaviours. The associations between lifetime depression and sexual/physical abuse were not fully explained by current depressive symptoms score, indicating that these findings may not be fully attributable to recall bias. There was no indication of differential risk for specific depressive symptoms among men and women.ConclusionsSexual and physical abuse are robust risk factors for depression/depressive symptoms regardless of sex. Higher risk of suicidal behaviours associated with childhood sexual/physical abuse are of particular concern. Longitudinal research into sex-specific associations for individual depressive symptoms is required

Photonic qubits, qutrits and ququads accurately prepared and delivered on demand

Reliable encoding of information in quantum systems is crucial to all approaches to quantum information processing or communication. This applies in particular to photons used in linear optics quantum computing (LOQC), which is scalable provided a deterministic single-photon emission and preparation is available. Here, we show that narrowband photons deterministically emitted from an atom-cavity system fulfill these requirements. Within their 500 ns coherence time, we demonstrate a subdivision into d time bins of various amplitudes and phases, which we use for encoding arbitrary qu-d-its. The latter is done deterministically with a fidelity >95% for qubits, verified using a newly developed time-resolved quantum-homodyne method.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Sexual and physical abuse and depressive symptoms in the UK Biobank.

BackgroundThe association between sexual and physical abuse and subsequent depression is well-established, but the associations with specific depressive symptoms and sex differences remain relatively understudied. We investigated the associations of sexual and physical abuse with depressive symptoms in men and women in a large population cohort.MethodsObservational study based on 151,396 UK Biobank participants. Exposures included self-reported experiences of childhood physical abuse and sexual abuse. Mid-life outcomes included current depressive symptoms score, individual depressive symptoms, and lifetime depression. We used logistic regression to test associations of childhood sexual/physical abuse with depressive outcomes.ResultsRecalled childhood sexual and physical abuse were both associated with current depressive symptoms score in adults. Results for individual symptoms-based analyses suggest that sexual and physical abuse are associated with all depressive symptoms, particularly suicidal behaviours. The associations between lifetime depression and sexual/physical abuse were not fully explained by current depressive symptoms score, indicating that these findings may not be fully attributable to recall bias. There was no indication of differential risk for specific depressive symptoms among men and women.ConclusionsSexual and physical abuse are robust risk factors for depression/depressive symptoms regardless of sex. Higher risk of suicidal behaviours associated with childhood sexual/physical abuse are of particular concern. Longitudinal research into sex-specific associations for individual depressive symptoms is required

Responding to Environmental Injustice: The Civil Rights Act and American Federal Institutional and Systemic Barriers to Private Redress of Disparate Environmental Harm

This article discusses the use of private action in federal institutions for relief from disparate racial impacts. The courts have eliminated consideration of § 602 disparate impact regulations as the basis for a private right of action challenging environmental harms. Legislative action seems unlikely in this era of gridlock and partisan polarization. Agency action seems to offer the most avenues for consideration of environmental justice concerns. However, agencies are bureaucratic and subject to election results, Congressional oversight and budgetary limitations, and backlogs of determination of environmental justice complaints. Deeply rooted systemic institutional racism further constrains possible reforms to the federal branches of government

Regulation of Growth in Avena Stem Segments by Gibberellic Acid and Kinetin

Kinetin at physiological concentrations causes significant reduction of GA 3 -promoted growth in excised Avena stem segments. Kinetin is therefore considered to be a gibberellin-antagonist in this system. A Lineweaver-Burke plot reveals that kinetin acts non-competitively with GA 3 . The kinetin inhibition of GA 3 -promoted growth can be seen within 6 hours. It was found that soluble protein is markedly increased by kinetin in the tissue during the first 3 hours, thus preceding the inhibition of GA 3 -promoted growth by several hours. At the cellular level, kinetin negated the blocking effect of GA 3 on cell division in the intercalary meristem portions of these segments. In fact, kinetin promotes both lateral and longitudinal cell divisions in intercalary meristem cells.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73968/1/j.1399-3054.1971.tb03524.x.pd