A meta-analytic review of the relationship between absence and turnover.

A meta-analysis that combined 33 correlations from 17 studies found a corrected average correlation of .330 between absence and turnover. The type of absence measure did not moderate the covariation between absence and turnover, but industry type and study duration did act as moderators. The results are discussed in the context of the "withdrawal" approach to understanding employee behaviors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A finite range failure model

In the present article the characterstics of a finite range failure time distribution, that includes the rectangular distribution as a particular case, are studied. When shape parameter surpass unity then the distribution is IFR otherwise it always remains IFRA. A graphic shape of the distribution is also formed for certain admissible values of the constants.     

Incremental maintenance of aggregate and outerjoin expressions

Views stored in a data warehouse need to be kept current. As recomputing the views is very expensive, incremental maintenance algorithms are required. Over recent years, several incremental maintenance algorithms have been proposed. None of the proposed algorithms handle the general case of relational expressions involving aggregate and outerjoin operators efficiently.     

A generalized gamma distribution with application to drought data

Gamma distributions are some of the most popular models for hydrological processes. In this paper, a very flexible family which contains the gamma distribution as a particular case is introduced. Evidence of flexibility is shown by examining the shape of its probability density function (pdf). A treatment of the mathematical properties is provided by deriving expressions for the n th moment. Estimation and simulation issues are also considered. Finally, a detailed application to drought data from the State of Nebraska is illustrated.     

Topology optimization of interconnection networks

This paper describes an automatic optimization tool that searches a family of network topologies to select the topology that best achieves a specified set of design goals while satisfying specified packaging constraints. Our tool uses a model of signaling technology that relates bandwidth, cost and distance of links. This model captures the distance-dependent bandwidth of modern high-speed electrical links and the cost differential between electrical and optical links. Using our optimization tool, we explore the design space of hybrid Clos-torus (C-T) networks. For a representative set of packaging constraints we determine the optimal hybrid C-T topology to minimize cost and the optimal C-T topology to minimize latency for various packet lengths. We then use the tool to measure the sensitivity of the optimal topology to several important packaging constraints such as pin count and critical distance.     

Mechanisms of resistance in a human cell line exposed to sequential topoisomerase poisoning

Camptothecins are a new class of anticancer drugs that target DNA topoisomerase I; current efforts are directed toward elucidating optimal combinations of these drugs with other antineoplastic agents. A rationale for the use of sequential therapy involving the combination of camptothecins with topoisomerase II-targeting drugs, such as etoposide, has arisen from observations of increased topoisomerase II protein levels in cell lines resistant to camptothecin. In an effort to understand potential mechanisms of resistance to this strategy, we developed a U-937 cell subline, denoted RERC, that is capable of surviving exposure to sequential topoisomerase poisoning. The RERC cells are 200-fold resistant to camptothecin, 8-fold resistant to etoposide, and 10-fold hypersensitive to cisplatin compared to the parental U-937 cells. Biochemical analyses indicate that the resistant phenotype involves alterations in both topoisomerase I and topoisomerase IIalpha. Topoisomerase I catalytic activity in the resistant cells is similar to that of the parental line but is resistant to camptothecin. Moreover, the resistant cells express a single mRNA species of topoisomerase I that codes for a mutation in codon 533. In addition, topoisomerase IIalpha protein levels are decreased 10-fold in the resistant line, coincident with a two-fold decrease in the expression of topoisomerase IIalpha mRNA. Collectively, these results indicate that resistance to sequential topoisomerase poisoning may involve a reduction in total cellular topoisomerase activity.     

交流·阅读文稿·互动——书籍整体设计伊始的两个重要环节

忽视书籍整体设计前与写作者的交流、阅读文稿这两个环节,无疑会对设计过程造成很大的设计障碍。“限制”与“反限制”于当代设计中是设计师所必须要面临的现实问题。克服被“限制”的思维定式,以“限制”为设计创想的起始点,使设计更准确地表现被设计物的气质,同时又能充分表现设计师独具的设计表现风貌、协助销售,使设计与销售达成双赢的结果,此为时代要求使然。