Development of brief scales to monitor clients' constructions of change.

This article describes the development and validation of scales to measure clients' outcome optimism, perceived progress, and self-agency related to change in problems presented in therapy. In Study 1, initial confirmatory and subsequent exploratory factor analyses (N?=?257) identified effort and persistence as an additional unique factor and guided selection of items to measure the 4 constructs. In Study 2, confirmatory factor analysis of the revised scales with a new sample (N?=?93) confirmed the measurement model. Results of convergent and discriminant validity analyses generally were in the predicted directions. The Perceived Progress scale demonstrated criterion validity with changes in dyadic adjustment and family functioning. The Outcome Optimism and Self-Agency scales showed variability in their relationship to the Perceived Progress scale over the first 3 sessions of therapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

High performance 0.35 μm gate-length monolithicenhancement/depletion-mode metamorphicIn0.52Al0.48As/In0.53Ga0.47As HEMTs on GaAs substrates

Monolithic integration of enhancement (E)- and depletion (D)-mode metamorphic In_0.52Al_0.48As/In_0.53Ga_0.47 As/GaAs HEMTs with 0.35 μm gate-length is presented for the first time. Epilayers are grown on 3-inch SI GaAs substrates using molecular beam epitaxy. A mobility of 9550 cm²/V-s and a sheet density of 1.12×10^{12 -2} are achieved at room temperature. Buried Pt-gate was employed for E-mode devices to achieve a positive shift in the threshold voltage. Excellent characteristics are achieved with threshold voltage, maximum drain current, and extrinsic transconductance of 100 mV, 370 mA/mm and 660 mS/mm, respectively for E-mode devices, and -550 mV, 390 mA/mm and 510 mS/mm, respectively for D-mode devices. The unity current gain cutoff frequencies of 75 GHz for E-mode and 80 GHz for D-mode are reported     

DC and RF characteristics of doped multichannelAlAs0.56Sb0.44/In0.53Ga0.47As field effect transistors with variable gate-lengths

Depletion-mode doped-channel field effect transistors (DCFETs) using a AlAs_0.56Sb_0.44/In_0.53Ga_0.47 As heterostructure with multiple channels grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) on an InP substrate are presented. Devices with gate lengths ranging from 0.2 μm to 1.0 μm have been fabricated. Three doped In_0.53Ga_0.47As channels separated by undoped AlAs_0.56Sb_0.44 layers are used for the devices. The devices exhibit unity current gain cut-off frequencies typically between 18 GHz and 73 GHz and corresponding maximum oscillation frequencies typically between 60 GHz and 160 GHz. The multiple channel approach results in wide linearity of dc and RF performance of the device     

Long-wavelength In0.53Ga0.47As metamorphicp-i-n photodiodes on GaAs substrates

Metamorphic In_0.53Ga_0.47As p-i-n photodiodes on GaAs substrate exhibiting the lowest dark current ever reported were fabricated and characterized. Their dark current, DC and RF performances were measured and compared for devices of different sizes. Typical dark current for 15-μm-diameter devices was 600 pA under 5-V reverse bias, corresponding to a dark current density of 3.40×10^-4 A/cm². Typical responsivity measured with 1.55-μm optical radiation was 0.55 A/W corresponding to an external quantum efficiency of 44%. The electrical 3 dB bandwidths of the photodiodes with diameters smaller than 20 μm were over 20 GHz     

Radiative effects of elevated aerosol layer in Central Himalayas

Systematic observations of light detection and ranging (LIDAR) to detect elevated aerosol layer were carried out at Manora Peak (29.4° N, 79.5° E, ～1960 m a.s.l), Nainital, in the Central Himalayas during January–May 2008. In spite of being a remote, high-altitude site, an elevated aerosol layer is observed quite frequently in the altitude range of 2460–4460 m a.s.l with a width of ～2 km during the observation period. We compare these profiles with the vertical profiles observed over Gadanki (13.5° N, 79.2° E, ～370 m a.s.l), a tropical station, where no such elevated aerosol layer was found. Further, there is a steady increase in aerosol optical depth (AOD) from January (winter) to May (summer) from 0.043 to 0.742, respectively, at Manora Peak, indicating aerosol loading in the atmosphere. Our observations show north-westerly winds indicating the convective lifting of aerosols from far-off regions followed by horizontal long-range transport. The presence of strongly absorbing and scattering aerosols in the elevated layer resulted in a relatively large diurnal mean aerosol surface radiative forcing efficiency (forcing per unit optical depth) of about??65 and??63 W m^?2 and the corresponding mean reduction in the observed net solar flux at the surface (cooling effect) is as high as??22 and??30 W m^?2. The reduction of radiation will heat the lower atmosphere by redistributing the radiation with heating rate of 1.13 and 1.31 K day^?1 for April and May 2008, respectively, in the lower atmosphere.     

Using qualitative methods to develop contextually relevant measures and preventive interventions: an illustration

Qualitative methods were used to develop a contextually relevant quantitative measure of parenting stress and inform the design of family-focused interventions aimed at preventing adolescent mental and behavioral health problems. The study focused on the experiences of low-income one- and two-parent families representing three ethnic groups (Mexican, African, and European Americans) living in low-income neighborhoods in a large Southwestern city. This report describes the place of this study in a broader program of prevention research, the qualitative methods and data analysis procedures employed, and how the results were used to develop a new measure of parenting stress and inform future program design. The report also includes reflective comments on the methods used and lessons gained.     

The influence of a south Asian dust storm on aerosol radiative forcing at a high-altitude station in central Himalayas

The impact of long-range transported dust aerosols, originating from the Thar Desert region, to a high-altitude station in the central Himalayas was studied with the help of micro-pulse lidar (MPL) observations. A drastic change in lidar back-scatter profile was observed on a dust day as compared with that on a pre-dust day. The back-scatter coefficient on a dust day revealed that the dust layer peaked at an altitude ～1300 m above ground level (AGL) and extended up to ～3000 m AGL, with maximum value ～3?×?10^–5 m^–1 sr^–1. Aerosol Index (AI) and air mass back-trajectory analysis substantiate the transport of dust aerosols from the far-off Thar Desert region to the experimental site. A significant effect of dust aerosols was also observed over the station on the spectral aerosol optical depths (AODs), measured using a Microtops-II Sunphotometer. It showed significantly different spectral behaviour of AOD on a dust day as compared with that on a pre-dust day. The Ångström exponent (α) showed a marked decrease from 0.42 to 0.04 from the pre-dust day to the dust day. The aerosol radiative forcing estimated using the Santa Barbara DISORT (discrete ordinate radiative transfer) atmospheric radiative transfer (SBDART) model, in conjunction with the optical properties of aerosol and cloud (OPAC) model, showed values of about –30, –45 and?+15 W m^–2, respectively, at top-of-atmosphere (TOA), surface and in the atmosphere on the dust day. The positive atmosphere forcing caused an estimated heating of the lower atmosphere by ～0.4 K day^–1.     

Intelligent Approach for Clustering Mutations’ Nature of COVID-19 Genome

In December 2019, a group of people in Wuhan city of Hubei province of China were found to be affected by an infection called dark etiology pneumonia. The outbreak of this pneumonia infection was declared a deadly disease by the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention on January 9, 2020, named Novel Coronavirus 2019 (nCoV-2019). This nCoV-2019 is now known as COVID-19. There is a big list of infections of this coronavirus which is present in the form of a big family. This virus can cause several diseases that usually develop with a serious problem. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 2019-nCoV has been placed as the modern generation of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronaviruses, so COVID-19 can repeatedly change its internal genome structure to extend its existence. Understanding and accurately predicting the mutational properties of the genome structure of COVID-19 can form a good leadership role in preventing and fighting against coronavirus. In this research paper, an analytical approach has been presented which is based on the k-means cluster technique of machine learning to find the clusters over the mutational properties of the COVID-19 viruses’ complete genome. This method would be able to act as a promising tool to monitor and track pathogenic infections in their stable and local genetics/hereditary varieties. This paper identifies five main clusters of mutations with as best in most cases in the coronavirus that could help scientists and researchers develop disease control vaccines for the transformation of coronaviruses.     

Parenting self-efficacy and parenting practices over time in Mexican American families.

Drawing on social cognitive theory, this study used a longitudinal cross-lagged panel design and a structural equation modeling approach to evaluate parenting self-efficacy's reciprocal and causal associations with parents' positive control practices over time to predict adolescents' conduct problems. Data were obtained from teachers, mothers, and adolescents in 189 Mexican American families living in the southwest United States. After accounting for contemporaneous reciprocal relationships between parenting self-efficacy (PSE) and positive control, results indicated that parenting self-efficacy predicted future positive control practices rather than the reverse. PSE also showed direct effects on decreased adolescent conduct problems. PSE functioned in an antecedent causal role in relation to parents' positive control practices and adolescents' conduct problems in this sample. These results support the cross-cultural applicability of social cognitive theory to parenting in Mexican American families. An implication is that parenting interventions aimed at preventing adolescent conduct problems need to focus on elevating the PSE of Mexican American parents with low levels of PSE. In addition, future research should seek to specify the most effective strategies for enhancing PSE. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Aerosol optical properties over Delhi and Manora Peak during a rare dust event in early April 2005

Dust storm events are annual phenomena observed over the Indo-Gangetic plain (IGP) during the pre-monsoon period (May–June). These dust storms affect the air quality, weather conditions and radiation budget of the region. In this paper we characterize the aerosol optical parameters associated with a rare dust storm event that hit the IGP during early April 2005. This event was considered rare as it occurred much earlier than the general occurrence of dust storms in India (May–June), and in the year 2005, the warmest year in the span of the previous hundred years.

In this study we considered the optical aerosol parameters for two places in the IGP: Delhi (28.5° N, 77.2° E, 325 m asl) and the high altitude station, Manora Peak (29.4° N, 79.5° E, 1958 m asl). Of the two selected stations, Delhi represents a highly populated and polluted location whereas Manora Peak represents a cleaner location in the central Himalayan region. During this dust storm event, the aerosol optical depth (AOD) was observed to increase considerably. The increment was 2.6–4.6 times over Delhi and 1.6–3.2 times over Manora Peak at wavelengths 380 and 1020 nm, respectively, with respect to the background values, whereas the Ångström exponent (α) for both the stations remained close to zero during the event. The effect shows a considerable increase in direct dust radiative forcing in terms of a reduction in the broadband global irradiance for Delhi as well as for Manora Peak stations. The direct aerosol radiative forcing thus obtained was about 34% in the 400–1100 nm wavelength band at Manora Peak.