美国珠宝评估业与珠宝保险评估

珠宝首饰的评估在美国的发展也是循序渐进的，依据市场与需求进行的，珠宝评估业的规模正在不断扩大，所提供的服务也正在细化，并向更加专业化的方向发展。     

The problem of definition expansion and contraction

This article is the fourth of a series of articles discussing various open research problems in automated reasoning. The problem proposed for research focuses on finding criteria that would enable an automated reasoning program to expand or contract definitions wisely. For evaluating a proposed solution to this research problem, we include suggestions concerning possible test problems.This work was supported by the Applied Mathematical Sciences subprogram of the Office of Energy Research, U.S. Department of Energy, under contract W-31-109-Eng-38.     

Are all cognitive therapies alike? A comparison of cognitive and noncognitive therapy process and implications for the application of empirically supported treatments.

The definition of an empirically supported treatment (EST) arguably embodies 2 untested assumptions: (a) that different manualized renditions of the same therapy are functionally equivalent and (b) that therapies can be reliably applied independently of therapist, setting, and format. These assumptions were tested as applied to cognitive therapy (CT), using process data from a large multisite study (N=235) that included 3 cognitive and 6 alternative therapies. Although the non-CTs were more variable than the CTs on 2 of 4 dimensions studied (directiveness and emotional arousal), there was considerable variation among the 3 CTs, even when implemented in the current context of rigorous training, manualization, and adherence checks. Results are discussed as related to the assumptions underlying EST criteria. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Repair of Cracked Aluminum Overhead Sign Structures with Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

Transportation departments have been using aluminum overhead sign structures since the 1950s. It is well documented that cracks develop in the welds between diagonal and chord members due to fatigue stresses from wind-induced vibration of the slender members. The cracks propagate to complete failure of the members, which can cause collapse of the truss and inflict injuries. The original design of overhead sign structures did not consider fatigue as a limit state. In addition, field welding of aluminum structures for any possible repairs is prohibited. A repair method for the cracked aluminum welded connections between diagonals and chord members using glass fiber reinforced polymer composites (GFRPs) is proposed. The static load carrying capacity of the welded connection, and the cracked connection repaired with GFRP composites are established. The paper describes the surface preparation of the aluminum tubular members, and the architecture and application sequence of the GFRP composite to retrofit the connection. Experimental results are presented from static tests of welded aluminum connections, welded aluminum connections retrofitted with GFRP composites, and new aluminum connections that depend only on GFRP composite elements for their strength. The results from monotonic static tests carried out on cracked welded specimens from actual sign structures show that the retrofitted connection with GFRP reinforcement achieved 1.17 to 1.25 times the capacity of the welded aluminum connection without any visible cracks. This result, and the minimal traffic disruption anticipated in the actual field application, makes this retrofit method a good candidate for implementation.     

Bridging scientist and practitioner perspectives in clinical psychology.

Literature suggests that a complex and often hostile relationship exists between the science and practice of clinical psychology. Contributors to this conflict of viewpoints are reconsidered within the proposition that there are different roads to discovery and that there may be good reasons to keep the science and practice of clinical psychology somewhat separate. Results of a national survey of 325 psychologists are reviewed that support the view that psychological practitioners value research and consider their practices to be augmented by scientific findings. However, they are in need of vehicles of communication that will help them translate scientific findings into practice. Results suggest that practitioners do more to understand scientific findings than scientists do to understand the problems that face clinical practitioners. Ways to facilitate communication between and among these groups are considered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Topology design and bridge-capacity assignment for interconnecting token ring LANs: A simulated annealing approach

We address the problem of determining the topology and bridge-capacity assignments for a network connecting a number of token rings via source-routing bridges. The objective is to minimize the cost of bridge installations while meeting the network users' performance requirements. The problem is modeled as a mixed 0–1 integer program. A comparison is given between two solution algorithms: a simulated annealing algorithm using the flow-deviation algorithm for each routing subproblem, and a drop algorithm using the simplex method for the same subproblems to provide benchmark solutions. In the former algorithm, the routing subproblem is formulated as a nonlinear program with penalty functions to model node and link capacity constraints, and in the latter as a multicommodity flow model with the same capacity constraints. Computational results show that the simulated-annealing/flow-deviation algorithm produced substantially better solutions than the LP-based drop algorithm.     

Exceptional convergent evolution in a virus

Replicate lineages of the bacteriophage phiX 174 adapted to growth at high temperature on either of two hosts exhibited high rates of identical, independent substitutions. Typically, a dozen or more substitutions accumulated in the 5.4-kilobase genome during propagation. Across the entire data set of nine lineages, 119 independent substitutions occurred at 68 nucleotide sites. Over half of these substitutions, accounting for one third of the sites, were identical with substitutions in other lineages. Some convergent substitutions were specific to the host used for phage propagation, but others occurred across both hosts. Continued adaptation of an evolved phage at high temperature, but on the other host, led to additional changes that included reversions of previous substitutions. Phylogenetic reconstruction using the complete genome sequence not only failed to recover the correct evolutionary history because of these convergent changes, but the true history was rejected as being a significantly inferior fit to the data. Replicate lineages subjected to similar environmental challenges showed similar rates of substitution and similar rates of fitness improvement across corresponding times of adaptation. Substitution rates and fitness improvements were higher during the initial period of adaptation than during a later period, except when the host was changed.     

Development of brief scales to monitor clients' constructions of change.

This article describes the development and validation of scales to measure clients' outcome optimism, perceived progress, and self-agency related to change in problems presented in therapy. In Study 1, initial confirmatory and subsequent exploratory factor analyses (N?=?257) identified effort and persistence as an additional unique factor and guided selection of items to measure the 4 constructs. In Study 2, confirmatory factor analysis of the revised scales with a new sample (N?=?93) confirmed the measurement model. Results of convergent and discriminant validity analyses generally were in the predicted directions. The Perceived Progress scale demonstrated criterion validity with changes in dyadic adjustment and family functioning. The Outcome Optimism and Self-Agency scales showed variability in their relationship to the Perceived Progress scale over the first 3 sessions of therapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)