Family configuration as an etiological factor in alcoholism.

Compared 2,454 treated alcoholics and 1,719 normal adults (aged 21–70 yrs). No overall excess of last-borns was found in the alcoholic population, but there were overrepresentations of only-children and last-borns from large sibships among the alcoholics. Results tend to disconfirm aspects of S. Schachter's (1959) theory of birth order effects and lend some support to the alternative psychodynamic (particularly Adlerian) theory. (11 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Longitudinal consistency of adult personality: Self-reported psychological characteristics across 45 years.

Examined the longitudinal consistency of personality characteristics, using data from the Kelly Longitudinal Study, a panel of 300 men and 300 women who were initially tested at age 18–35 during the 1930's. Emotional disturbance during the 1930's and 1950's, as measured by the Bernreuter Personality Inventory and the Bell Adjustment Inventory, had significant correlations in the .25–.40 range with measures of psychiatric symptoms (from the Cornell Medical Index) taken in 1979–1981. Revised inventory scales with content related to neuroticism and social introversion–extraversion had moderate longitudinal consistency across several decades of adult life and demonstrated convergent and discriminant validity. Results demonstrate the utility of personality measurements in predicting significant psychological outcomes over the full interval of the normal adult lifespan. (33 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Carbonylation of Diols to Cyclic Carbonates

The catalytic alkoxycarbonylation of 1,2‐diols by (neocuproine)palladium(II) acetate (neocuproine=2,9‐dimethyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline) or palladium(II) acetate/(−)‐sparteine using N‐chlorosuccinimide as the oxidant affords cyclic carbonates. The oxidative carbonylation of diols proceeds under mild conditions, requiring only 1 atm of carbon monoxide, and produces cyclic carbonates in moderate to good yields. Both 1,2‐ and 1,3‐diols can be carbonylated using (neocuproine)Pd(OAc)₂ and sodium dichloroisocyanuric acid, which serves as a competent oxidant and base for this system, to yield 5‐ and 6‐membered cyclic carbonates.     

An assessment of the accuracy of numerical solutions to the graetz problem

It has been well documented in prior studies that numerical solutions to the classical Graetz problem in the entrance region of pipes produce estimates of Nusselt number that are greatly in error. In this report, we examine this problem and attempt to provide plausible explanation for the discrepancy.     

A multiple modulator fractional divider

Fractional-N frequency synthesis using a phase locked loop (PLL) is considered. Advances in oversampling A/D conversion technology are incorporated into fractional-N synthesis, allowing the spectrum of error energy to be shaped so that fractional synthesis error energy is pushed away from the carrier. Based on this new technology, a CMOS integrated fractional-N divider was successfully developed. A complete fractional-N PLL was constructed utilizing only a CMOS divider, a dual modulus prescaler, a simple loop filter, and a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). The resulting PLL exhibits no fractional spurs     

Pseudo epi-cost reduction approach and a paradigm shift in substrate material

Historically, P/P+ epitaxial wafers have been utilized for CMOS products for more than two decades. The epitaxial wafers have several key characteristics such as latch up immunity, oxygen-free active areas, superior oxide quality, and gettering capability compared to bulk nonepi wafers. The epi wafers, however, are costly. Pseudo epi is an alternative to epi wafers with equivalent device performance and material cost savings of 20%-25%. Pseudo epi or high-temperature hydrogen anneal is expected to save a significant percentage of start material costs over the epi substrate for logic family products where epi wafers have dominated the market.     

Gallstone prevalence and biliary lipid composition in inflammatory bowel disease

Biliary cholesterol saturation has been correlated with disease variables that might effect bile acid loss in ileitis patients with (N = 9) or without (N = 8) intestinal resection having a defined prevalence of gallstones. In addition, cholesterol saturation was determined in ulcerative colitis patients (N = 7) and gallstone patients (N = 18) as well as in 5 normal controls. Biliary cholesterol saturation in ileitis patients both with and without resection was similar to that in gallstone patients yet the prevalence of gallstones was only 12%. Cholesterol saturation did not correlate with ileal resection nor the extent, duration, or activity of ileitis. Biliary cholesterol saturation was not different in ulcerative colitis patients from that in normal subjects. It is concluded that cholesterol saturation of bile alone does not account for the high prevalence of cholesterol gallstones that has been reported in ileitis patients.     

CD40 ligand gene defects responsible for X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome

The ligand for CD40 (CD40L) is a membrane glycoprotein on activated T cells that induces B cell proliferation and immunoglobulin secretion. Abnormalities in the CD40L gene were associated with an X-linked immunodeficiency in humans [hyper-IgM (immunoglobulin M) syndrome]. This disease is characterized by elevated concentrations of serum IgM and decreased amounts of all other isotypes. CD40L complementary DNAs from three of four patients with this syndrome contained distinct point mutations. Recombinant expression of two of the mutant CD40L complementary DNAs resulted in proteins incapable of binding to CD40 and unable to induce proliferation or IgE secretion from normal B cells. Activated T cells from the four affected patients failed to express wild-type CD40L, although their B cells responded normally to wild-type CD40L. Thus, these CD40L defects lead to a T cell abnormality that results in the failure of patient B cells to undergo immunoglobulin class switching.     

Effects of using high- versus low-performing job incumbents as sources of job-analysis information.

We investigated the relation between incumbent performance level and job-analysis information using three different methods. Separate groups of high- and low-performing incumbents generated lists of tasks and of knowledges, skills, and abilities (KSAs) for the job of youth officer for a large metropolitan police force. These lists were virtually the same for all groups. In addition, those tasks and KSAs omitted by any of the groups were found to be unimportant in later ratings. Group differences in the ratings of the inventories on a number of scales as well as the ratings of the 18 cognitive Fleishman Ability Scales by the entire incumbent population (N?=?179) and their supervisors (N?=?9) were examined. The individual scales were factor analyzed, and discriminant analyses were applied to the factor scores to identify any differences in the ratings of high and low performers and supervisors. No differences were found. The limitations of this study are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)