Adverse impact and predictive efficiency of various predictor combinations.

The effects of number of predictors, predictor intercorrelations, validity, and level of subgroup difference on composite validity, adverse impact ratios, and mean subgroup difference associated with various predictor composites, including and excluding a "high impact" ability measure, were assessed. The size of subgroup differences is substantially smaller when low-impact predictors are combined with a high-impact predictor, but hiring ratios for majority and minority groups still indicate a prima facie case of discrimination, using the fourth-fifths rule for most predictor-criterion combinations. However, the validity of a composite of alternate predictors and cognitive ability may exceed the validity of cognitive ability alone and reduce the size of subgroup differences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

évaluation préliminaire des qualités psychométriques d'un système de codification du soutien conjugal pour le trouble de stress post-traumatique.

Lack of social support (SS) is one of the most important factors influencing the development and maintenance of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and people living in couples seek the support of their spouse. To our knowledge, no study on PTSD has used an observational measure of SS in addition of the usual self-report method of measurement. The purpose of this study is to adapt the Social Support Interaction Global Coding System (SCIS) and to explore its psychometric properties using 20 support interactions videotaped with couples among whom a spouse has a PTSD diagnosis. Results suggest that the new SCIS (PTSD) shows satisfactory interrater reliability, good internal consistency and good convergent validity with self-reported measures of perceived support and marital adjustment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Black bear femoral porosity decreases and mechanical properties increase with age despite annual periods of disuse (hibernation)

Inactivity causes bone loss, and a remobilization period that is 2-3 times longer than the disuse period is required to recover lost bone. Black bears (Ursus americanus), however, experience annual disuse (hibernation) and active periods that are approximately equal in length, but maintain bone material properties with age. Here, the effects of annual hibernation periods on whole bone properties were investigated. This study shows that mineral, geometrical and whole bone mechanical properties increase with age in black bear femurs, whereas porosity decreases with age. These results provide further support that black bears possess a biological mechanism to avoid disuse osteoporosis.     

Lien entre la qualité des relations familiales et sociales à l'adolescence et à l'age adulte.

Fifty-seven families with adolescent children participated in a study of a) the quality of family and friendship relationships in adolescence, and b) the quality of family, friendship, and romantic relationships of adolescents 7 years later. Observation measures and self-report questionnaires were used to examine the variables. Regression analyses showed that mothers' marital satisfaction, conjugal conflict, and quality of mother-daughter relationship in adolescence predicted daughters' satisfaction with romantic relationships in adulthood. However, only the parental variables during adolescence predicted the quality of friendship relationships in adulthood. This study highlighted the contribution that quality of family relationships in adolescence makes to the quality of interpersonal relationships in adulthood. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The near wall behavior of an impinging jet

The present work investigates the applicability of scaling log-laws to the turbulent impinging jet. Both, the velocity and the temperature fields are studied under this assumption. To validate the proposed expressions, a detailed experimental program was carried out based on thermal anemometry. The experiments were conducted for one nozzle-to-plate spacing (H/D = 2.0) and Reynolds number of 35,000. A constant wall heat flux condition was achieved by conducting electricity through thin resistors that were placed beneath an aluminum disk. Measurements of local velocity and of temperature distributions are presented as well as longitudinal turbulence profiles. The mean temperature profiles were measured through thermocouples.     

The natural history of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia as diagnosed by North American urologists

PURPOSE: We defined outcomes for men with a clinical diagnosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We followed for 4 years 500 candidates for elective prostatectomy treated nonoperatively in 5 North American urology practices. RESULTS: There were 371 survivors with complete data at 4 years. Of 60 men with mild, 245 with moderate and 66 with severe baseline symptoms 10, 24 and 39%, respectively, had undergone surgery; 27, 31 and 27%, respectively, were on pharmacological therapy, and 63, 45 and 33%, respectively, were off active treatment at 4 years. Mild or moderate symptoms were noted at 4 years in 83, 59 and 23% of the patients, respectively, while 17, 41 and 77%, respectively, had severe symptoms or had undergone surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes for men with a clinical diagnosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia depend on initial symptom severity. However, the course of symptoms also varies among patients even with the same initial symptom severity.     

Passive avoidance behavior in rats after electroconvulsive shock: Facilitative effect of response retardation.

In 3 experiments, a total of 178 male Wistar rats were trained in a one-trial passive avoidance task and then were submitted to electroconvulsive shock (ECS) or to sham ECS. 24 hrs later they were tested for retention, with the door opened either immediately or 30 sec after the beginning of the test. Ss initially forced to avoid for 30 sec continued to avoid for the entire test, but the others had the usual low step-through latencies seen with ECS-treated Ss. Activity measures for those Ss stepping through differentiated groups having received footshock from those not having footshock and ECS. A retest 5-10 min later showed "recovery" in the amnestic Ss and continued avoidance behavior for those that avoided on the first test. Results are taken as evidence that ECS effects are not on memory storage but on the capacity of the animal to organize information effectively and quickly in order to produce an adaptive response. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Estimation of X-band scattering properties of treecomponents

An X-band FM-CW very-fine-range resolution scatterometer was used to acquire backscattering data for individual branches for a number of tree species. Using a model to describe the scattering source function and an experimental procedure for selected removal of plant parts, an estimation was made of η, the volume backscatter coefficient, and κ, the volume extinction coefficient. It is found that: (1) leaves are strong attenuators as well as scatterers; (2) the albedo (the ratio η/κ), at a given angle of incidence, is nearly independent of the tree type; (3) the tree limbs are good attenuators but rather poor scatterers; and (4) te albedo changes as a function of the angle of incidence and for deciduous trees is also a function of the season     

Management of persistent filtering cicatrix following cataract extraction

We used a safe and simple surgical technique in the management of persistent filtering cicatrices after cataract extraction. The edematous, friable filtering cicatrix was excised entirely and a healthy fornix-based conjunctival flap was sutured over the fistula. Invariably, the fistula was very small, usually only large enough to admit a 27-gauge needle. Of the 27 eyes treated with this technique, there were two failures, but no other complications.     

Synthesis of butadiene-acroleine block polymers

Summary From GPC and ¹H NMR results, we have shown that block polymers built with acroleine and butadiene units can be synthesized. Moreover, the cross-linkage ability of the acroleine blocks in these products under UV irradiation has been checked. This is very interesting for an industrial application. Indeed, homopolyacroleines can be used as a photopolymer layer to prepare negative or positive printing plates.