Acceptable Variance Research Articles

Acoustic multipole source model for volcanic explosions and inversion for source parameters

SUMMARY Volcanic explosions are accompanied by strong acoustic pressure disturbances in the atmosphere. With a proper source model, these acoustic signals provide invaluable information about volcanic explosion dynamics. Far-field solutions to volcanic infrasound radiation have been derived above a rigid half-space boundary, and a simple inversion method was developed based on the half-space model. Acoustic monopole and dipole sources were estimated simultaneously from infrasound waveforms. Stability of the inversion procedure was assessed in terms of variances of source parameters, and the procedure was reliable with at least three stations around the infrasound source. Application of this method to infrasound observations recorded at Tungurahua volcano in Ecuador successfully produced a reasonable range of source parameters with acceptable variances. Observed strong directivity of infrasound radiation from explosions at Tungurahua are successfully explained by the directivity of a dipole source model. The resultant dipole axis, in turn, shows good agreement with the opening direction of the vent at Tungurahua, which is considered to be the origin of the dipole source. The method is general and can be utilized to study any monopole, dipole or combined sources generated by explosions.

Uncertainty of performance requirements for IVHM tools according to business targets

Operators and maintainers are faced with the task of selecting which health monitoring tools are to be acquired or developed in order to increase the availability and reduce operational costs of a vehicle. Since these decisions will affect the strength of the business case, choices must be based on a cost benefit analysis. The methodology presented here takes advantage of the historical maintenance data available for legacy platforms to determine the performance requirements for diagnostic and prognostic tools to achieve a certain reduction in maintenance costs and time. Theeffect of these tools on the maintenance process is studied using Event Tree Analysis, from which the equations are derived. However, many of the parameters included in the formulas are not constant and tend to vary randomly around a mean value (e.g.: shipping costs of parts, repair times), introducing uncertainties in the results. As a consequence the equations are modified to take into account the variance of all variables. Additionally, the reliability of the information generated using diagnostic and prognostic tools can be affected by multiple characteristics of the fault, which are never exactly the same, meaning the performance of these tools might not be constant either. To tackle this issue, formulas to determine the acceptable variance in the performance of a health monitoring tool are derived under the assumption that the variables considered follow Gaussian distributions. An example of the application of this methodology using synthetic data is included.

Learning to live with black bears: A psychological model of acceptance

AbstractThe reappearance and recovery of large carnivores in human‐dominated landscapes creates a need to understand how people will respond to the presence of these animals. We tested a psychological model of acceptance to determine what variables most influence people's acceptance for black bears (Ursus americanus) in an area with an emerging black bear population (Ohio, USA). We hypothesized that people's perceptions of risk and benefit related to bears would mediate the effect of trust (in wildlife management agencies) and personal control (over interactions with and management of wildlife) on acceptance for black bears. We used a mail‐back survey of Ohio residents (n = 9,400; adjusted response rate = 35%) to assess the variables of interest and test the hypothesized model. Based on multiple criteria of model fit, the hypothesized model fit the data acceptably well. The model explained approximately 62% of the variance in acceptance, and perception of risk associated with black bears had the largest impact on the level of acceptance. As large carnivore populations expand and interactions with humans increase, our results will aid managers in designing outreach materials and communications aimed at promoting acceptance for large carnivores. Our model suggests that interventions raising an individual's social trust in the managing agency, or personal control can indirectly raise stakeholders' acceptance by reducing risk perception and increasing perception of benefit from carnivores. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.

Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery Among British Female University Students

Although patients of cosmetic surgery are increasingly ethnically diverse, previous studies have not examined ethnic differences in attitudinal dispositions toward cosmetic surgery. In the present study, 751 British female university students from three ethnic groups (Caucasians, South Asians, and African Caribbeans) completed measures of acceptance of cosmetic surgery, body appreciation, self-esteem, and demographic variables. Initial between-group analyses showed that Caucasians had lower body appreciation and self-esteem than Asian and African Caribbean participants. Importantly, Caucasians had higher acceptance of cosmetic surgery than their ethnic minority counterparts, even after controlling for body appreciation, self-esteem, age, and body mass index. Further analyses showed that ethnicity accounted for a small proportion of the variance in acceptance of cosmetic surgery, with body appreciation and self-esteem emerging as stronger predictors. Possible reasons for ethnic differences in acceptance of cosmetic surgery are discussed in Conclusion.

Design of a Weigh Feeder Control System for Reduced Energy Consumption

In the present paper, we discuss a design method for controlling a weigh feeder that has been widely used in industry. Since a control system is designed using a performance-adaptive method, the control parameters are adaptively updated based on user-specified control performance. In conventional performance-adaptive methods, control systems are designed such that the variance of the control error is less than or equal to a specified value and the variance of the differences in the control input is minimized without changing the acceptable variance value of the control error. On the other hand, since the design objective of the present study is to reduce energy consumption, the variance of the differences in the control input is first set, and then the variance of the control error is minimized without changing the acceptable variance value of the differences in the control input. Consequently, the variation of the control input can be substantially reduced. In the proposed method, a proportional-integral controller is designed based on generalized minimum variance control (GMVC) with steady-state predictive output (GMVCS). One of the design parameters in GMVCS is automatically decided such that a desired control performance can be attained, and the PI parameters of a PI control law are calculated based on a GMVCS law.

Effects of Symptoms of ADHD, ODD, and Cognitive Functioning on Social Acceptance and the Positive Illusory Bias in Children

Objective: To examine the effects of symptoms of ADHD and ODD and cognitive functioning on social acceptance and positive bias in children. Method: The sample consisted of 86 children (49 girls) between 7 and 13 years old, recruited to reflect a wide range of ADHD symptoms. Parents and teachers reported on ADHD and ODD symptoms and social acceptance. Children reported on social acceptance and were given tasks measuring working memory, inhibition and reaction-time variability. A discrepancy score between child and adult reports of social acceptance was used as a measure of positive bias. Results: Inattention independently explained variance in social acceptance. The cognitive factors were related to social acceptance and the positive bias, but not beyond the ADHD and ODD symptoms. Conclusion: It is primarily disruptive behavior that contributes to external reports of children’s social acceptance.

PERSONALITY TRAITS IN CHRONIC PAIN PATIENTS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH LOW ACCEPTANCE AND CATASTROPHIZING ABOUT PAIN

Objective: Pain acceptance is considered important for mental well-being with better functional outcomes for chronic pain patients. The present study explored whether pain-related variables (pain severity, pain interference, pain duration, and pain catastrophizing) and non-pain-related variables (personality traits) influence acceptance and additionally examined the interrelationship between the influencing variables and acceptance.Methods: One hundred patients with chronic pain from a multidisciplinary pain centre completed selfreport questionnaires on acceptance, pain severity, interference of life, pain duration, pain catastrophizing, and personality.Results: Pain severity, pain interference, and pain duration had no significant correlations with acceptance. Pain catastrophizing and most personality traits were significantly and negatively related to acceptance. Regression analyses revealed that of all personality traits, the avoidant personality trait explains most variance of acceptance. Subsequent mediation analysis indicated that catastrophizing about pain mediated the relationship between the avoidant personality trait and acceptance.Conclusion: The findings indicate that acceptance is influenced by catastrophizing and avoidant personality traits. The clinical implication might be that acceptanceoriented treatments may prove less successful in chronic pain patients with more pronounced avoidant personality traits. Extra focus on a reduction of the frequency of pain catastrophizing might be helpful.

Exploring the Incremental Validity of Nonverbal Social Aggression: The Utility of Peer Nominations

This study examined the construct validity of nonverbal social aggression and the relation of nonverbal social aggression to dimensions of children's social status. Peer nominations of verbal social, nonverbal social, direct verbal, and physical aggression, as well as social dominance, perceived popularity, and social acceptance, were collected from 459 elementary students. Structural equation modeling with physical and direct verbal aggression items and verbal and nonverbal social aggression items yielded three factors of aggression: overt, nonverbal social, and verbal social. Subsequent analyses indicated that girls are more nonverbally socially aggressive than boys. Nonverbal social aggression was found to explain unique variance in social acceptance for boys and to offer equal contributions to girls' social dominance and perceived popularity, controlling for overt and verbal social aggression. Suggestions for future research are discussed.

A mutual acculturation model of multicultural campus climate and acceptance of diversity.

This study examines the relationship between college students' perceptions of their campus' multicultural climate and their acceptance of racial/ethnic diversity. A two-mediator model, based on acculturation principles, was successfully fit to survey data from 434 college students of diverse racial/ethnic heritage. Results showed that valuing positive interactions with members of ethnocultural groups other than one's own is a positive mediator and strength of ethnocultural identity is a (much less important) negative mediator of the relationship between student perceptions of multicultural campus programming and personal acceptance of diverse racial/ethnic groups. Furthermore, each mediator independently contributed to the prediction of such acceptance. Overall, the model accounts for about 25% of the variance in acceptance of diversity and was a better fit to the data than a reverse path model. Follow-up analyses, separately by ethnic group, showed that perceptions of campus programming predicted acceptance of diversity for the White subsample, but not for the Latino subsample. Nevertheless, the two acculturation-related constructs were important for both groups, with the model accounting for 28% and 24% of their respective variances in acceptance of diversity. Practical implications are drawn.

Blood Sampling Through Peripheral Venous Catheters Is Reliable for Selected Basic Analytes in Children

The goal was to determine the interchangeability of peripheral venous catheter (PVC) and venipuncture blood sampling (BS). Paired blood samples from hospitalized children were obtained through venipuncture and from existing PVCs, following discard of 2 mL of blood. Comparisons of 9 complete blood count indices (white and red blood cell counts, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin level, red blood cell distribution width, platelet count, and mean platelet volume) and 5 basic chemical analysis indices (sodium, potassium, glucose, chloride, and urea levels) were performed, and hemolysis was documented. Irrespective of gauge, blood samples were obtained successfully from 40 (85.1%) of 47 PVCs, with no abnormal hemolysis. BS through venipuncture took longer than BS from PVCs (175.8 +/- 229.6 vs 104.5 +/- 53.4 seconds; P = .053) and was associated with significantly more distress/crying (73.1% vs 0%; P < .001). There were no significant differences between venipuncture and PVC samples (paired t test). Twenty-one (6%) of 348 pairs analyzed with the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment standards fell outside the range of acceptable variance (8 of 21 aberrations were attributed to glucose measurements). Bland-Altman analysis indicated that, with the exclusion of glucose measurements, BS from PVCs is reliable, with 29 (6.5%) of 448 pairs exceeding the limits of agreement. Of those, 9 cases were clinically significant, but none would have altered clinical management. PVC sampling was shown to be a pain-reducing method that can be used for children for selected basic analytes. The findings for glucose were unreliable.

Comparative study of sour cherry samples for their anthocyanin content measured by tools of the laboratory and by portable equipments

The inner quality of fruits depends on many components. The analysis of pharmacologically important fruit species as the sour cherry consumed as a common food is an expensive task, mostly requiring an equipped laboratory. In sour cherry, one of its valuable components, the anthocyanin content deserves special attention. A portable analytical implement, which has been developed by our team measures the anthocyanin content on a scale of 1024 PharMgrades. The system is a member of the UVEX family of implements working with a microprocessor and performs the measurement quickly. The portable variant (UVEX-ML-1) does not require much training, the laboratory variant (UVEX UL-1) performs a large quantity of tests under modest laboratory conditions. Preparation of the samples is easily done, the necessary elements are available in the trade. The reagent is easily stored and dosed. The system was tested and proved to be of sufficient precision and the result showed acceptable variance according to the checks performed by a spectrophotometer in the laboratory.

The effect of statistical analytical measurement variations on the plant control parameters and production costs in cement manufacturing – a case study

Raw materials used in cement manufacturing normally have varying chemical compositions and require regular analyses for plant control purposes. This is achieved by using several analytical instruments, such as XRF and ICP. The values obtained for the major elements Ca, Si, Fe and Al, are used to calculate the plant control parameters Lime Saturation Factor (LSF), Silica Ratio (SR) and Alumina Modulus (AM). These plant control parameters are used to regulate the mixing and blending of various raw meal components and to operate the plant optimally. Any errors and large fluctuations in these plant parameters not only influence the quality of the cement produced, but also have a major effect on the cost of production of cement clinker through their influence on the energy consumption and residence time in the kiln. This paper looks at the role that statistical variances in the analytical measurements of the major elements Ca, Si, Fe and Al can have on the ultimate LSF, SR and AM values calculated from these measurements. The influence of too high and too low values of the LSF, SR and AM on clinker quality and energy consumption is discussed, and acceptable variances in these three parameters, based on plant experiences, are established. The effect of variances in the LSF, SR and AM parameters on the production costs is then analysed, and it is shown that variations of as large as 30% and as little as 5% can potentially occur. The LSF calculation incorporates most chemical elements and therefore is prone to the largest number of variations due to statistical variances in the analytical determinations of the chemical elements. Despite all these variations in LSF values they actually produced the smallest influence on the production cost of the clinker. It is therefore concluded that the LSF value is the most practical parameter for plant control purposes.

Examining internet banking acceptance: a comparison of alternative technology adoption models

Technology acceptance has been widely researched in the past two decades, resulting in the development of a cumulative tradition in the Information Systems (ISs) discipline. Two theories commonly applied to investigate technology acceptance are the Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). These two models/theories may complement and supplement each other in their theoretical capacity and capability. This paper integrates DOI with TAM and evaluates their capacity in the context of internet banking acceptance. Our findings suggest that the proposed integrated model is significantly better in explaining the variance in internet banking acceptance than either the DOI or the TAM alone.

Acceptance of cosmetic surgery and celebrity worship: Evidence of associations among female undergraduates

The present study examined the association between acceptance of cosmetic surgery and celebrity worship in a sample of British female undergraduates. A total of 401 women completed the Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery Scale (ACSS; Henderson-King & Henderson-King, 2005), the Celebrity Attitude Scale ( McCutcheon, Lange, & Houran, 2002), and provided their demographic details. Results showed that there were highly significant correlations between all subscales of the ACSS and CAS, as well as with participant age, and body mass index (BMI). A series of multiple regressions showed that celebrity worship and participant demographics explained about half of the variance in acceptance of cosmetic surgery, with Intense-personal celebrity worship emerging as the strongest predictor. Limitations of the current study are discussed in conclusion.

Patient-Assisted Computerized Education for Recipients of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators

Patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are at risk for postimplant anxiety. Computerized treatments for anxiety are well supported and desirable because of accessibility, anonymity, and cost-effectiveness. However, there currently exists no computerized psychosocial treatment for ICD populations. Our objective was to evaluate whether a pilot program (patient-assisted computerized education for recipients of ICDs [PACER of ICDs]) of a computerized intervention for ICD patients would improve ICD-related knowledge and psychological outcomes versus usual care. Outcomes were also compared with those from a related study that used the same intervention but in an in-person format. Patients (N = 30) with an ICD were randomized to PACER or usual care. Mean time from implantation was 10.71 months (SD, 21.81 months). Outcomes included ICD-related knowledge, trait anxiety, defibrillation-related anxiety, patient acceptance of the ICD, and quality of life. Patients were assessed at baseline and at 1 month follow-up. Knowledge score over time did not differ by treatment group, although both groups improved their scores. Among treatment patients, increased knowledge accounted for a significant amount of variance in device acceptance (R2 change = 0.30, P =.02), irrespective of age, education, ejection fraction, and time from implantation. There was no relationship between knowledge and device acceptance among control patients. Compared with previous recipients, new device recipients (< 3 months) were more likely to demonstrate an increase in knowledge (P =.01), greater defibrillation anxiety (P =.02), and worse patient acceptance (P =.04). Patient-assisted computerized education for recipients of ICDs resulted in comparable improvements in trait anxiety, quality of life, and device acceptance as the in-person treatment. The potential utility of PACER to enhance device acceptance lends support for further testing among larger samples.

Adoption of E-Government Services

The purpose of this study is to assess and test the factors that influence user adoption of e-Government services: the Electronic Approval System (EAS). This study uses the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the extended TAM (TAM2), the Diffusion of Innovation (DOI), and trust to build a parsimonious yet comprehensive model of factors that influence user acceptance of the EAS. We collected data from a total of 112 public officers in 12 ministries in Cambodia. We assessed the model with regression analyses. The findings in this article show that the determinants of the model (perceived usefulness, relative advantage, and trust) explain 30.5% of the variance in user acceptance of the EAS. At the same time, image, output quality, and perceived ease of use explain 38.4% of the variance in user perception of the usefulness of the EAS. In this article, we discuss our findings, implications, and suggestions for future research.

Peer acceptance and social behavior during childhood and adolescence: How important are appearance, athleticism, and academic competence?

Efforts to identify factors associated with peer acceptance have historically focused on behavioral and social cognitive processes, whereas less empirical attention has focused on the impact of children's other personal attributes and competencies that are not inherently a component of social competence. The current study examined the association of three such nonsocial attributes — physical attractiveness, athleticism, and academic competence — with peer acceptance and whether these associations vary as a function of gender and development. In addition, we examined the extent to which peer perceptions of these attributes were associated with positive and negative patterns of social behavior and whether child attributes accounted for unique variance in peer acceptance above and beyond indices of social behavior. Use of a large (N = 3183) sample of students in grades 2—10 allowed examination of whether the associations of child attributes, social behavior, and peer acceptance varied as a function of development or gender. All three attributes consistently accounted for unique variance in social acceptance and behavior, although their relative importance varied. Child gender and grade level were significant, but not universal, moderators of these associations.

Perceived usefulness, ease of use, and usage of citation database interfaces: a replication

PurposeThis paper aims to report on an investigation into ways in which end‐users perceived citation database interfaces, especially citation database interfaces' usability.Design/methodology/approachThe investigation used the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) constructs of usefulness and ease of use to assess acceptance of citation database interfaces by university graduate students. A structural equation model was used to fit and validate the Citation Database Interface Acceptance Model (CDIAM).FindingsCausal relationships between the constructs considered by the CDIAM were well supported, accounting for 95 per cent of total variance in citation database interface acceptance and usage. The study concluded that perceived usefulness, and not ease of use of citation database interface, is a key determinant of their acceptance and usage. The results of the construct measurement for perceived usefulness and ease of use in this research are quite consistent with the results reported in recent research.Originality/valueStudy findings may help to evaluate human‐computer interaction using the MIS‐proven TAM and improve usability of the citation database system.

Focus of Identity and Motivation About the Integration of Turkey into the European Union

The integration of Turkey into the European Union (EU) is a major political issue, and an interesting psychological object with motivational and identity-related aspects. This article examines whether the structure of some young French people’s motives can be used to predict the acceptability of Turkey’s integration into the EU. It was hypothesized that Apterian metamotivational states ( Apter, 2001 ) would structure the pro and cons of the acceptability of Turkey’s integration. In each of two studies, a questionnaire was designed and administered to assess the motives, either pro or con, for Turkey’s integration. Acceptability ratings were also collected. Factorial analyses provided two series of components that were simple to interpret in a reversal theory structure. Four components were common to both studies: individual paratelism, individual telism, sympathy for the Turks, and European mastery. Path analyses were conducted to predict acceptability with the components as predictors, and benefit and risk judgments as intermediate variables. The fits were good and the models explained 72.1% (pros) and 64.2% (cons) of the overall variance in acceptability. Of particular interest is an unexpected finding that was replicated in both studies: Each component loaded a collection of items centered on only one of three possible positions on what interests were at stake: European people’s interests, Turkish people’s interests, or participants’ own interests.

Attitudinal and Intentional Acceptance of Domestic Robots by Younger and Older Adults.

A study was conducted to examine the expectations that younger and older individuals have about domestic robots and how these expectations relate to robot acceptance. In a questionnaire participants were asked to imagine a robot in their home and to indicate how much items representing technology, social partner, and teammate acceptance matched their robot. There were additional questions about how useful and easy to use they thought their robot would be. The dependent variables were attitudinal and intentional acceptance. The analysis of the responses of 117 older adults (aged 65-86) and 60 younger adults (aged 18-25) indicated that individuals thought of robots foremost as performance-directed machines, less so as social devices, and least as unproductive entities. The robustness of the Technology Acceptance Model to robot acceptance was supported. Technology experience accounted for the variance in robot acceptance due to age.