Validation of the hospital anxiety and depression scale in a gastro-intestinal clinic

This study examined the validity of the Japanese version of the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HAD) in a gastro-intestinal outpatient clinic. One hundred and twenty-three men and 142 women consulting a gastro-intestinal outpatient clinic at a primary care hospital in Kyoto during 1995 were surveyed. Item-remainder correlation and internal consistency were examined for reliability. Concurrent validities were examined using the stait-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) and Zung's self-rating depression scale (SDS). The prevalence of psychiatric disorder in this population ranged from 27% to 39%. Cronbach's coefficients were greater than 0.8 for the anxiety subscale and more than 0.7 for the depression subscale. Spearman's correlation of the anxiety subscale scores and the STAI were r = 0.678 for men, and r = 0.717 for women. The correlation of depression subscale scores and SDS were r = 0.457 for men, and r = 0.565 for women. It is suggested that the use of the HAD to general hospital outpatients clinic would facilitate detecting emotional disorders in outpatients.     

An extended use of the instrumentality theory of attitude for obtaining self-acceptance measures.

Information was obtained from 81 undergraduates regarding the importance of their personal goals and their perceptions of the extent to which each of their positive and negative personal characteristics is helpful or harmful to the attainment of those goals. Ss' scores for the California Psychological Inventory and peer ratings were used as criteria. The instrumentality/valence model scores correlated significantly with the criteria, but the valence alone did not make a contribution to the correlations. Reasons for nonsignificant correlation of the valence and the implications of the findings for the assessment of self-acceptance are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Constant-current circuit-biasing technology for GaAs FET IC

A new constant-current biasing technology has been proposed, analyzed, and applied to GaAs FET IC's using n-channel depletion-mode FET's. Current-mirror (CM) type current-sink (CS) circuits were proposed as a new building-block circuit. The monolithic prototype samples were fabricated, and the CM characteristics were observed experimentally. The CS currents were insensitive to the V_th-variation over 0.4 V, and the temperature coefficient became as small as -0.04%/°C. Moreover, this circuit was resistant to the sidegating effect. The circuit was successfully applied to a GaAs lightwave communication IC, and good stability against temperature variation was demonstrated     

Thermal diffusivity measurements of thin films and multilayered composites

This review discusses the following methods for measuring thermal diffusivity of thin materials: ac calorimetric method, flash method, mirage-effect method, picosecond time-resolved thermoreflectance method, photoacoustic method, etc. The measurements are classified into the following three cases: (a) that yield thermal diffusivity parallel to the surface of a thin material, (b) that yield thermal diffusivity perpendicular to the surface, and (c) that yield thermal diffusivity perpendicular to the surface of a thin material but deposited on a solid substrate. The contribution of inhomogeneity in the spatial distribution of the imparted thermal energy and obscureness at the edge of the restricted region, to which uniform thermal energy is imparted, is considered in each case. The contribution of temporal distortion of the temperature pulse, waves, etc., is considered in each measurement. The proper thickness of samples required for the measurements is discussed. In some of the measurements, the applicable materials are restricted, for instance, thermoreflectance measurements are applicable to metallic samples only.Paper presented at the Second U.S.-Japan Joint Seminar on Thermophysical Properties, June 23, 1988, Gaithersburg, Maryland, U.S.A.     

Validity of expectancy theory as a within-person behavioral choice model for sales activities.

Using 62 female life insurance sales representatives (mean age 36.5 yrs) in Japan, the present study hypothesized, based on an expectancy model of choice, that when choosing among 6 types of policies to sell, Ss would more frequently choose the policy associated with the larger force score. Ss were required to fill out a questionnaire containing measures of the expectancy of sales success, the valence for 4 self-generated outcomes, and the instrumentality of sales success for those outcomes. The number of policies sold was used as an index of performance for each policy. An overall contingency table based on the item ranks indicated significant relationships between force and performance. The average within-person Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient for force and performance for those 6 policy types was .50. Implications for expectancy theory as a within-person choice model and some methodological problems involved in the present study are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Analysis of gas leakage through C/C composites

Gas leakage through carbon-fiber-reinforced carbon matrix composites (C/Cs) was examined with respect to the application of C/Cs in heat exchangers in an engine system for a future space plane. Because C/Cs have many cracks and pores, gas readily leaks through them. To predict and prevent this gas flow through the C/Cs, leakage rates were measured as a function of pressure, and gas flow paths were identified by microscopic observations of C/Cs. Several analytical models were then used to clarify the principal mechanisms yielding gas-flow resistance. Laminar flow models in tubes and slits were found to give excellent leak-rate predictions compared with experimental results for unidirectionally and three-dimensionally reinforced C/Cs, respectively. A model based on adiabatic expansion and compression, which is used for gas leaks through labyrinth seals, resulted in reasonable agreement with the leak rates through a cross-ply laminated C/C.     

Effect of temperature and layer thickness on these strengths of carbon bonding for carbon/carbon composites

In order to apply carbon/carbon composites (C/Cs) to various hot structures, secondary bonding techniques effective at elevated temperatures are frequently required. In the present study, carbon bonding between lamination type C/Cs was formed by the carbonation of polymer adhesive, and the strength of the bonding was evaluated at temperatures up to 2273 K in a vacuum using the double-notched shear method. The results revealed that bonding strength increased with increasing temperature and became higher than the inter-laminar shear strength of the substrate C/C when the bonding layer was thin. The enhancement of carbon bonding strength with increasing temperature was shown to be caused mainly by the evaporation of absorbed gases, probably water, up to temperatures of 1800 K with a slight additional contribution of thermal residual stress. It was also shown that heat treatment at higher temperatures made the bonding stronger.     

Two nearly identical aromatic compound hydrolase genes in a strong polychlorinated biphenyl degrader, Rhodococcus sp. strain RHA1

The two 2-hydroxy-6-oxohepta-2,4-dienoate (HOHD) hydrolase genes, etbD1 and etbD2, were cloned from a strong polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) degrader, Rhodococcus sp. strain RHA1, and their nucleotide sequences were determined. The etbD2 gene was located in the vicinity of bphA gene homologs and encoded an enzyme whose amino-terminal sequence was very similar to the amino-terminal sequence of the HOHD hydrolase which was purified from RHA1. Using the etbD2 gene fragment as a probe, we cloned the etbD1 gene encoding the purified HOHD hydrolase by colony hybridization. Both genes encode a product having 274 amino acid residues and containing the nucleophile motif conserved in alpha/beta hydrolase fold enzymes. The deduced amino acid sequences were quite similar to the amino acid sequences of the products of the single-ring aromatic hydrolase genes, such as dmpD, cumD, todF, and xylF, and not very similar to the amino acid sequences of the products of bphD genes from PCB degraders, including RHA1. The two HOHD hydrolase genes and the RHA1 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-6-phenylhexa-2,4-dienoate (HPDA) hydrolase gene, bphD, were expressed in Escherichia coli, and their relative enzymatic activities were examined. The product of bphD was very specific to HPDA, and the products of etbD1 and etbD2 were specific to HOHD. All of the gene products exhibited poor activities against the meta-cleavage product of catechol. These results agreed with the results obtained for BphD and EtbD1 hydrolases purified from RHA1. The three hydrolase genes exhibited similar induction patterns both in an RNA slot blot hybridization analysis and in a reporter gene assay when a promoter probe vector was used. They were induced by biphenyl, ethylbenzene, benzene, toluene, and ortho-xylene. Strain RCD1, an RHA1 mutant strain lacking both the bphD gene and the etbD2 gene, grew well on ethylbenzene. This result suggested that the etbD1 gene product is involved in the meta-cleavage metabolic pathway of ethylbenzene.