Measuring perceived mutuality in close relationships: Validation of the Mutual Psychological Development Questionnaire.

In an initial validation study of the Mutual Psychological Development Questionnaire (MPDQ), a measure of perceived mutuality in close relationships, 345 respondents completed the scale for spouse or partner and friend relationships. Results indicated high interitem reliability. Construct and concurrent validity were demonstrated. MPDQ ratings were correlated with adequacy of social support, relationship satisfaction, and cohesion. Ratings correlated negatively with depression. Low spouse or partner mutuality was predictive of significant depressive symptoms in women but not in men. In a 2nd study, 81 respondents completed the scale at 2 time points. Test–retest reliability was satisfactory, and high interitem consistency was replicated. The substantive meaning of these findings, gender differences, and possible future research applications of the MPDQ are disscussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A REVIEW OF PRODUCTION PLANNING AND SCHEDULING MODELS IN THE SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY PART I: SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS, PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND PRODUCTION PLANNING

Although the national importance of the semiconductor industry is widely acknowledged, it is only recently that the production planning and scheduling problems encountered in this environment have begun to be addressed using industrial engineering and operations research.techniques. These problems have several features that make them difficult and challenging: random yields and rework, complex product flows, and rapidly changing products and technologies. Hence their solution will contribute considerably to die theory and practice of production planning and control. In a two-part project we present a review of research in this area to date, discuss the applicability of the various approaches and suggest directions for future research. In this paper, Part I, we describe the characteristics of the semiconductor manufacturing environment and review models related to performance evaluation and production planning. Part II will review research on shop-floor control in this industry to date.     

Sociodemographic factors and the variation in syphilis rates among US counties, 1984 through 1993: an ecological analysis

OBJECTIVES: Syphilis in the United States is focally distributed, with high incidence rates in the South and in metropolitan areas nationwide. In this study an ecological analysis, using the county as the unit of analysis, was performed to generate hypotheses about community-level determinants of syphilis rates. METHODS: Bivariate rank correlations and multivariate, backward stepwise elimination linear regressions were performed. Mean annual incidence of primary- and secondary-stage syphilis in a county was the dependent variable, and county sociodemographic characteristics (from census data) were the independent variables. RESULTS: In the multivariate regression model, sociodemographic characteristics accounted for 71% of the variation in syphilis rates among counties. With other factors accounted for, the most highly correlated characteristics were percentage non-Hispanic Black population, county location in the South, percentage of the population that was urban, percentage Hispanic population, and percentage of births to women younger than 20 years. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the variation in syphilis rates among counties is accounted for by sociodemographic characteristics. Identification and remediation of modifiable health determinants for which these factors are markers are needed to improve the health status of these populations.     

The nuclear fuel cycle

In the first half of the 21st century, a redistribution of the energy data should occur, where nuclear will play a more important role, particularly as coal will become more and more costly to extract.On a worldwide basis, the unability of oil to be replaced in some areas like transportation, and the difficulty of developing countries to find substitutes for this energy source, could also lead developed countries to keep the energy resources for a better utilization, and give the countries which have no access to other resources, a possibility to develop.Thus, France has extensively enhanced nuclear energy for its electricity production, and, consequently, makes the necessary efforts for the knowledge of the whole fuel cycle.     

Détermination des perturbations induites aux extrémités d’une ligne blindée soumise à une excitation ponctuelle de courant

This article allows the determination of the induced perturbations at the ends of the coaxial line in wide frequency band enough. The perturbation source is a current direct point injection into the cable screen in any position. For this, we have applied the theory of the state variables, with foundation of the quasi-TEM approximation, in order to simulate the coaxial line above a ground level that has a finished conductivity. This allows us to supply the current and voltage expressions at the ends of the line as their analytic forms for any conditions of charge. Next, the elaborate objective is to verify experimentally on concrete applications if the test obtained results confirm the theoretical expectations supplied by calculation code finalizing.     

Raman studies of structural rearrangements induced in human plasma lipoprotein carotenoids by malondialdehyde

Raman and resonance Raman spectra of plasma lipoproteins ± malondialdehyde were studied at concentrations which block the normal receptor-mediated uptake by cells. The strong resonance Raman bands at about 1010, 1162 and 1530 cm⁻¹, due to the presence of carotenoids in the lipoproteins, are envisaged as structural probes. High resolution resonance Raman spectra of the 1500–1600 cm⁻¹ region reveal multiple features suggesting the coexistence of several structural populations of β-carotene whose precise assignment is complex. When plasma lipoproteins are reacted with malondialdehyde, a complex change occurs in the resonance Raman banding of β-carotene in the 1500–1600 cm⁻¹ region. Malonaldehyde (MDA) also modifies the acoustical region (70–200 cm⁻¹ of low density lipoprotein (LDL) lipids. We suggest that malondialdehyde association with plasma lipoproteins alters the lipid structure via apoprotein or apoprotein/lipid associations.     

Modélisation et analyse temporelle d’un bus d’interconnexion en technologie GaAs

The author presents the theoretical methods for modeling and transient analysis of coupled transmission lines. For an interconnecting bus used in GaAs technology with a 30 ps rise time activating signal and 3 mm length, he shows the great importance of coupling: signal distortion on the activated lines and parasiting on the unactivated ones. He studies the reduction of these phenomena with use of earth lines or addition of a second ground plane over the lines.     

Ionomer composites based on sepiolite/hydrogenated poly(styrene butadiene) block copolymer systems

Ionomeric composites based on sepiolite and hydrogenated poly(styrene butadiene) block copolymer were obtained and characterized from a microstructural and electrical point of view. Before blending, because of the high silanol group concentration in the sepiolite, the latter could be organophilized with suitable coupling agents. The resulting materials were easily processed into thin films or membranes 0.2–0.4 mm thick, their conductivity in some cases approaching 10^?1 S/cm. Their suitability for film formation and good electrical properties indicate potential applications as electrolytes in polymer fuel cells. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 3512–3519, 2002