Epidemiological comparisons of problems and positive qualities reported by adolescents in 24 countries.

In this study, the authors compared ratings of behavioral and emotional problems and positive qualities on the Youth Self-Report (T. M. Achenbach & L. A. Rescorla, 2001) by adolescents in general population samples from 24 countries (N = 27,206). For problem scales, country effect sizes (ESs) ranged from 3% to 9%, whereas those for gender and age ranged from less than 1% to 2%. Scores were significantly higher for girls than for boys on Internalizing Problems and significantly higher for boys than for girls on Externalizing Problems. Bicountry correlations for mean problem item scores averaged .69. For Total Problems, 17 of 24 countries scored within one standard deviation of the overall mean of 35.3. In the 19 countries for which parent ratings were also available, the mean of 20.5 for parent ratings was far lower than the self-report mean of 34.0 in the same 19 countries (d = 2.5). Results indicate considerable consistency across 24 countries in adolescents' self-reported problems but less consistency for positive qualities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Pleasantness in relation to difference threshold of NaCl in mashed potato

Difference threshold values for sodium chloride were determined to investigate to what extent just noticeable differences (jnd) affect preferences. Samples were unflavored, garlic-flavored and pepper-flavored mashed potato. At the reference concentration of 0.60% NaCl, the jnd value for unflavored and garlic-flavored samples was 0.07% NaCl, and for the pepper-flavored sample, 0.08% NaCl. The pleasantness of seven samples between ±9 jnds from the reference (0.60% NaCl), was rated on a graphic scale ranging from less pleasant to more pleasant (reference at the midpoint). Forty-one subjects participated in the test. For unflavored and garlic-flavored mashed potato, concentrations below 0.36% NaCl and above 0.82% NaCl, and for pepper-flavored, below 0.31% NaCl and above 0.83% NaCl, were required to obtain statistically significant differences in hedonic responses compared to the reference concentration.     

Normal people working in normal organizations with normal equipment: System safety and cognition in a mid-air collision

A fundamental challenge in improving the safety of complex systems is to understand how accidents emerge in normal working situations, with equipment functioning normally in normally structured organizations. We present a field study of the en route mid-air collision between a commercial carrier and an executive jet, in the clear afternoon Amazon sky in which 154 people lost their lives, that illustrates one response to this challenge. Our focus was on how and why the several safety barriers of a well structured air traffic system melted down enabling the occurrence of this tragedy, without any catastrophic component failure, and in a situation where everything was functioning normally. We identify strong consistencies and feedbacks regarding factors of system day-to-day functioning that made monitoring and awareness difficult, and the cognitive strategies that operators have developed to deal with overall system behavior. These findings emphasize the active problem-solving behavior needed in air traffic control work, and highlight how the day-to-day functioning of the system can jeopardize such behavior. An immediate consequence is that safety managers and engineers should review their traditional safety approach and accident models based on equipment failure probability, linear combinations of failures, rules and procedures, and human errors, to deal with complex patterns of coincidence possibilities, unexpected links, resonance among system functions and activities, and system cognition.     

Multi-objective optimization by genetic algorithm of structural systems subject to random vibrations

This paper deals with a multi-objective optimization criterion for linear viscous-elastic device utilised for decreasing vibrations induced in mechanical and structural systems by random loads. The proposed criterion for the optimum design is the minimization of a vector objective function. The multi-objective optimization is carried out by means of a stochastic approach. The design variables are the device frequency and the damping ratio. As cases of study, two different problems are analysed: the base isolation of a rigid mass and the tuned mass damper positioned on a multi degree of freedom structural system subject to a base acceleration. The non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm in its second version (NSGA-II) is adopted to obtain the Pareto sets and the corresponding optima for different characterizations of the system and input.     

Using phase diagrams to deal with moisture expansion

Consensus has it that the post-fabrication moisture expansion of fired clay-based materials is governed by the presence of amorphous and/or vitreous phases. In this work, very simple calculations using the lever rule and the phase diagram of the Al₂O₃–SiO₂–K₂O (A–S–K) system, were used to show that the experimentally observed dependencies between moisture expansion and the A/S and K/A weight ratios in clay-based compositions can be correlated with the amount of liquid phase formed during the initial melting of the composition, which remains in the fired body as a vitreous phase. This correlation might, if judiciously used, help ceramists in the choice of additives and/or processing conditions, while avoiding changes in the firing temperatures. Also, the results obtained throw a sharper light in the dual and, in this respect, antagonistic role played by the liquid phase during firing.     

Feasibility of automating military''s environmental operations

This paper focuses on analyses of the feasibility of telerobotic and autonomous systems in hazardous environments. The hazardous environments are divided into three missions: area clearance, removal of unexploded ordnance, and hazardous waste removal. This paper identifies the factors impacting military's missions on various operating systems. Then, a decision support system based on fuzzy logic is developed for studying these factors to determine the feasibility of automating military's environmental restoration operations. The last part of the paper provides a set of recommendations for technology policy development.     

Interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 responses in relation to serum IgE levels in persons infected with human T lymphotropic virus type I and Strongyloides stercoralis

Possible immunologic interaction between infection with human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), a retrovirus, and the intestinal parasite Strongyloides stercoralis was investigated in persons infected with one or both agents. This was done by examining the cytokine responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to mitogens and Strongyloides antigen. PBMC of subjects infected with HTLV-1 spontaneously produced interferon (IFN)-gamma with levels that correlated inversely with serum IgE levels. HTLV-1-infected subjects also had poor interleukin (IL)-4 responses to mitogenic stimulation, unlike persons without HTLV-1 infection. It is postulated that the IFN-gamma produced by activated T cells in some HTLV-1-infected persons acts to down-regulate IL-4 with consequent reduction of serum IgE levels. The impaired IgE responses and other effects of IL-4 down-regulation may be contributing factors to more severe disease and impaired response to treatment of strongyloidiasis in some HTLV-1-infected persons.     

The effect of service employees’ technology readiness on technology acceptance

As much of the work of service employees is supported by IT, the quality of the service often depends on how the technology is used. Most employees only use a fraction of the functionality available on their desk-top. This may also depend on their personality. We performed research on the relationship of personality and technology acceptance.     

Preceramic Polymer Route to Amorphous and Crystalline Potassium Aluminosilicate Powders and Their Electrorheological Properties

The oxide one-pot synthesis (OOPS) process was used to synthesize a polymer precursor to potassium aluminosilicate, KAlSiO₄ (KASp). A KAlSiO₄ gel (KASg) also was produced via a solgel route using the same precursor. The two routes to KAlSiO₄ were explored to compare the effects of the two processing methods on powder properties. The KASp and KASg powders both transformed on heating (.500°C) to amorphous, high-surface-area powders with narrow pore-size distributions (4–24 nm). These anhydrous, amorphous powders were intrinsic electrorheological (ER) materials. Both materials crystallized at } 1070°C, and thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis, and X-ray diffractometry suggested that they were identical. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy proved that the KASp powders were homogeneous, whereas the KASg powders were heterogeneous and segregated. The KASg powders exhibited better ER properties that were associated with the segregated phases.     

Kainate-induced retina amacrine-like cell damage is mediated by AMPA receptors

We investigated the effect of domoate, kainate and AMPA on 45Ca2+ uptake and on metabolic activity of cultured chick amacrine-like cells, as measured by reduction of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). Domoate and kainate stimulated 45Ca2+ uptake and decreased MTT reduction, in a LY 303070-sensitive manner. AMPA caused a small increase on 45Ca2+ uptake, but it was without effect on MTT reduction. AMPA reduced both the 45Ca2+ entry and neurotoxicity induced by kainate, and cyclothiazide enhanced both the 45Ca2+ entry and neurotoxicity induced by AMPA. The results indicate that the AMPA receptors are the non-NMDA glutamate receptors involved in excitotoxicity.