Showing papers by "Temple University published in 1992"

Impact of parenting practices on adolescent achievement: authoritative parenting, school involvement, and encouragement to succeed.

Abstract: This article examines the impact of authoritative parenting, parental involvement in schooling, and parental encouragement to succeed on adolescent school achievement in an ethnically and socio-economically heterogeneous sample of approximately 6,400 American 14-18-year-olds. Adolescents reported in 1987 on their parents' general child-rearing practices and on their parents' achievement-specific socialization behaviors. In 1987, and again in 1988, data were collected on several aspects of the adolescents' school performance and school engagement. Authoritative parenting (high acceptance, supervision, and psychological autonomy granting) leads to better adolescent school performance and stronger school engagement. The positive impact of authoritative parenting on adolescent achievement, however, is mediated by the positive effect of authoritativeness on parental involvement in schooling. In addition, nonauthoritativeness attenuates the beneficial impact of parental involvement in schooling on adolescents achievement. Parental involvement is much more likely to promote adolescent school success when it occurs in the context of an authoritative home environment.

Ethnic differences in adolescent achievement: An ecological perspective.

Abstract: Using data collected from a large sample of high school students, the authors challenge three widely held explanations for the superior school performance of Asian-American adolescents, and the inferior performance of African- and Hispanic-American adolescents: group differences in (a) parenting practices, (b) familial values about education, and (c) youngsters' beliefs about the occupational rewards of academic success. They found that White youngsters benefit from the combination of authoritative parenting and peer support for achievement, whereas Hispanic youngsters suffer from a combination of parental authoritarianism and low peer support. Among Asian-American students, peer support for academic excellence offsets the negative consequences of authoritarian parenting. Among African-American youngsters, the absence of peer support for achievement undermines the positive influence of authoritative parenting.

A Controlled Trial of Fluconazole to Prevent Fungal Infections in Patients Undergoing Bone Marrow Transplantation

Abstract: Background and Methods. Superficial and systemic fungal infections are a major problem among severely immunocompromised patients who undergo bone marrow transplantation. We performed a doubleblind, randomized, multicenter trial in which patients receiving bone marrow transplants were randomly assigned to receive placebo or fluconazole (400 mg daily). Fluconazole or placebo was administered prophylactically from the start of the conditioning regimen until the neutrophil count returned to 1000 per microliter, toxicity was suspected, or a systemic fungal infection was suspected or proved. Results. By the end of the treatment period, 67.2 percent of the 177 patients assigned to placebo had a positive fungal culture of specimens from any site, as compared with 29.6 percent of the 179 patients assigned to fluconazole. Among these, superficial infections were diagnosed in 33.3 percent of the patients receiving placebo and in 8.4 percent of the patients receiving fluconazole (P<0.001). Systemic fungal in...

A Catastrophe Model for Developing Service Satisfaction Strategies

Abstract: Customer satisfaction/dissatisfaction has become an important issue for marketing practitioners. The authors examine the issue in terms of customer service. In particular, practitioners and academi...

Comorbidity of anxiety and depression in children and adolescents.

Abstract: Anxiety and depression in children and adolescents are reviewed, including differential diagnosis, assessment of symptoms, family history data, developmental features, and clinical correlates. Findings indicate that 15.9% to 61.9% of children identified as anxious or depressed have comorbid anxiety and depressive disorders and that measures of anxiety and depression are highly correlated. Family history data are inconclusive. Differences emerged among children with anxiety, depression, or both disorders. Anxious children were distinguishable from the other 2 groups in that they showed less depressive symptomatology and tended to be younger. The concurrently depressed and anxious group tended to be older and more symptomatic. In this group, the anxiety symptoms tended to predate the depressive symptoms. Findings are discussed in the context of a proposed developmental sequence.

2',5'-phosphorothioate oligoadenylates and their covalent conjugates with polylysine

Abstract: Optically active compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein n is 1 or 2 and m is 0, 1, 2 or 3 have antiviral activity. Compounds of the formula wherein at least one of the internucleotide phosphorothioate linkages is of the Sp configuration possess increased antiviral activity and/or metabolic stability.

Role stressors, social support, and well‐being among two‐career couples

Abstract: Summary The study examined relationships among work and family role stressors, work-family conflict, social support, and well-being using data gathered from 119 men and 119 women who were partners in a two-career relationship. Results showed that withindomain relationships of stressors with well-being are stronger than between-domain relationships. Thus, work and family role stressors were primarily related to job satisfaction and family satisfaction respectively, whereas work and family role stressors as well as work-family conflict were associated with overall life stress. Similar results were found for the relationships of social support with well-being. Work support was associated with increased job satisfaction, while spouse support was associated with greater family satisfaction. Some gender differences were found in the relationships of stressors and social support with well-being. Implications of the findings for future research on work-family dynamics were discussed.

What attracts foreign multinational corporations? evidence from branch plant location in the united states

Abstract: . The location decisions of foreign multinational corporations (FMNCs) are analyzed using a conditional logit model with states as the choice set. We consider the establishment of new manufacturing plants and separately analyze the site selection of all MNCs, Japanese MNCs, and European MNCs. The results indicate that access to markets, labor market conditions, state promotional efforts to attract foreign investment, and state and local personal taxes are significant fadors in the location decision. The decision determinants for Japanese and European MNCs are found to be different.

An algorithmic proof theory for hypergeometric (ordinary and “q”) multisum/integral identities

Abstract: It is shown that every ‘proper-hypergeometric’ multisum/integral identity, orq-identity, with a fixed number of summations and/or integration signs, possesses a short, computer-constructible proof We give a fast algorithm for finding such proofs Most of the identities that involve the classical special functions of mathematical physics are readily reducible to the kind of identities treated here We give many examples of the method, including computer-generated proofs of identities of Mehta-Dyson, Selberg, Hille-Hardy,q-Saalschutz, and others The prospect of using the method for proving multivariate identities that involve an arbitrary number of summations/integrations is discussed

Inhibition of experimental seizures in canines by repetitive vagal stimulation.

Abstract: Summary: Repetitive electrical stimulation of the canine cervical vagus nerve interrupts or abolishes motor seizures induced by strychnine and tremors induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ). Tremors were defined as rhythmic alternating contractions of opposing muscle groups, exerting much less force than seizure contractions. Seizures were induced by injection boluses of strychnine or PTZ at 1- to 4-min intervals until sustained muscle activity was observed electromyographically (EMG). Vagal stimulation terminated seizures in 0.5-5 s. There were prolonged periods with no spontaneous EMG activity after stimulation. The period of protection was approximately four times the stimulation period. The antiseizure actions of vagal stimulation were not altered by transection of the vagus distal to the stimulating electrode. Optimal stimulus parameters were estimated: strength, -20 V (electrode resistance 1-5 ω); frequency 20–30 Hz; duration, -0.2 ms. These data suggest that the antiseizure effects derive from stimulation of small-diameter afferent unmyelinated fibers in the vagus nerve. These results may form the basis of a new therapeutic approach to epilepsy.

Swelling kinetics of polymers

Abstract: The equilibrium swelling of semicrystalline or crosslinked polymers and of their gels upon immersion in liquids has been investigated extensively. On the other hand, few studies have dealt with the kinetics of swelling. Swelling kinetics are important for designing controlled-release devices for drugs and agricultural pesticides based on swellable polymer matrices, and for predicting the release rates of the active ingredients. Theoretical considerations, based on diffusion-controlled swelling, show that first-order kinetics does not apply, even though deviations during the initial and even middle stages of the swelling process may be relatively small. Extensive studies of swelling rate and equilibrium swelling of supported and unsupported gelatin films have been published. The rate is controlled by stress relaxation in the swelling polymer network. The rate equations of these studies, which have also been reported to apply to cellulose, are shown to represent second-order kinetics with respect t...

Incorporating systematic uncertainties into an upper limit

Abstract: We discuss the problem of incorporating the uncertainty in the experimental sensitivity into the calculation of an upper confidence limit on a branching ratio or similar quantity. If the number of events is small or zero but without background, the correction to the usual result is given by a simple, easily applied formula. The case of an accurately known background also has a simple solution.

Learning to Communicate in the Classroom

Abstract: It is now generally accepted that second language (L2) acquisition can take place as a result of learning how to communicate in the L2. It is less clear, however, whether the kind of communication that occurs in a classroom is sufficient to ensure development of full target language competence. This article examines the extent to which the opportunities for communication in an English as a Second Language (ESL) classroom result in the acquisition of one particular illocutionary act—requests. A total of 410 requests produced by two child learners over 15–21 months were examined. The results suggest that although considerable development took place over this period, both learners failed to develop either the full range of request types or a broad linguistic repertoire for performing those types that they did acquire. The learners also failed to develop the sociolinguistic competence needed to vary their choice of request to take account of different addressees. One explanation for these results is that although the classroom context fostered interpersonal and expressive needs in the two learners, it did not provide the conditions for real sociolinguistic needs.

Statistical analysis of drug combinations for synergism

Abstract: Testing a pair of drugs for synergism requires determination of the potency of the combination and comparison of this potency with that of a theoretically additive combination. The potency of a drug or of a mixture is measured as a dose (or concentration) that produces a specified level of effect such as one-half the maximum effect (E,,,). Most often this dose, denoted either D,, (for graded data) or ED50 (for quanta1 data), is obtained from an appropriate analysis of dose-effect data that yields a smooth curve. Because doses have frequently been found to be log-normally distributed, the smooth curve analyzed is often plotted with log(dose) or log(concentration) on the abscissa for both graded and quanta1 curves. When data are quantal, the proportion or percent of subjects responding is often converted to probits. Probit analysis, a weighted regression procedure, is deeply rooted in the pharmacologic literature. It permits the use of 0 and 100% responses in the regression analysis and thus uses all the data. Discussions of probit analysis are contained in Hewlett and Plackett (1979) and Tallarida and Murray (19871, the latter provided a computational algorithm and computer program for getting the mean ED50 and confidence limits. The most complete discussion of probit analysis is in the standard work by Finney 0971). In contrast to the weighted regression procedure of probit analysis, analysis of graded data is usually conducted in the mid-range of effects where the error variance is approximately constant. Thus, simple linear regression of effect on log dose is employed and yields the mean log(D,,) and variance, V[log(D,,)], from which the mean D,, and VCD,,) may be calculated. It is convenient to have a simple notation for potency, whether ED50 or D,,, or doses based on other levels of effect (e.g., D,, and ED70 when the level of effect is 70% of E,,,). We here denote this dose by z”, with appropriate subscripts to identify each individual drug or the mixture. Of course, in all comparisons and analyses that utilize these quantities, it is understood that the same common level of effect applies. Most often this will be one-half of E,,, so that z * will be a D,, or ED50 value, but other levels of effect are sometimes used (Ossipov et al. 1990). It should also be mentioned that non-linear curve fitting algorithms that compute z *, its variance and confidence limits from dose-response data may be employed instead of simple linear regression or probit analysis. However, the latter is especially suitable to the analysis of quanta1 data because it allows the use of 0 and 100% responses in a method of estimation based on maximum likelihood (Finney 1971). In the following it will be assumed that potency estimates (z *) and related statistical quantities have been obtained by a valid analysis of the data.

Molecular epidemiology of Pseudomonas cepacia determined by polymerase chain reaction ribotyping.

Abstract: Traditional ribotyping detects genomic restriction fragment length polymorphisms by probing chromosomal DNA with rRNA. Although it is a powerful method for determining the molecular epidemiology of bacterial pathogens, technical difficulties limit its application. As an alternative, polymorphisms were sought in the 16S-23S spacer regions of bacterial rRNA genes by use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Chromosomal DNA from isolates of Pseudomonas cepacia was used as a template in the PCR with oligonucleotide primers complementary to highly conserved sequences flanking the spacer regions of the rRNA genes. Length polymorphisms in the amplified DNA distinguished unrelated isolates of P. cepacia. Isolates of P. cepacia previously implicated in person-to-person transmission were shown to have identical amplification patterns. These data demonstrate the utility of this new PCR ribotyping method for determining the molecular epidemiology of bacterial species. Images

H-Splittings and two-stage iterative methods

Abstract: Convergence of two-stage iterative methods for the solution of linear systems is studied. Convergence of the non-stationary method is shown if the number of inner iterations becomes sufficiently large. TheR 1-factor of the two-stage method is related to the spectral radius of the iteration matrix of the outer splitting. Convergence is further studied for splittings ofH-matrices. These matrices are not necessarily monotone. Conditions on the splittings are given so that the two-stage method is convergent for any number of inner iterations.

Population aging and the growth of health expenditures.

Abstract: To what extent can rising per capita health expenditures be attributed to the changing age composition of the population? While numerous projections have been made, all have been based on cross-sectional spending differences between individuals at a single point in time, rather than on national expenditures as the age structure of the population changes over time. Cross-sectional and time series analyses of 20 countries in the years 1960-1988 show population aging is associated with higher health expenditures if no other variables are allowed in the equation; this "effect," however, is due to the secondary association of aging with rising per capita income and other omitted trend variables. Once these factors are controlled for, there is no longer any discernible association between age structure and health care costs. Age affects the allocation of spending, but not the total amount of funds available. The increasing burden of health expenditures is largely a policy and cost management problem rather than a demographic one.

Literacy objects as cultural tools: Effects on children's literacy behaviors in play.

Abstract: A study examined the effects of literacy-enriched play settings on preschoolers' literacy behaviors in spontaneous free play. Subjects were 91 children, ages 3-5, from 2 urban day care centers. Prior to, and following the intervention, the frequency of each child's handling, reading and writing behaviors in play was assessed through direct observation. Videotaped samples of play areas, collected throughout the study, examined the nature of children's play themes and their uses of literacy objects in play. Following baseline observations, the physical environment of one of the day care centers was enriched with literacy objects in three distinct play centers: kitchen, office, and library. Significant differences were recorded for the experimental group in the frequency, duration, and complexity of literacy demonstrations in play. Further, children in the experimental group incorporated literacy objects in more diverse and functional ways in their play using more explicit language than the control group. Findings suggests that, with literacy-enriched settings, play may become an increasingly important context for children to discover and explore the nature of written language. (SevIn tables of data and 4 figures are included; 45 references are attached.) (Author/MG) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original docvment. ***********************************************************************

The sensitivity of bank stock returns to market, interest and exchange rate risks

Abstract: This paper presents and estimates a multifactor model of bank stock returns that incorporates market return, interest rate and exchange rate risk factors. A model of the optimizing behavior of an international banking firm is used to derive the sensitivity coefficients of the alternative factors. Regression equations are estimated that are based on either actual or unexpected values of the underlying factors with a post-October 1979 time dummy variable and with a money-center bank dummy variable. Standard results are obtained for the market and interest rate variables while new results are derived for the exchange rate variable. The specific effects of the latter variable are found to be dependent on the time period of observation and the money-center status of banks.

Clopidogrel inhibits the binding of ADP analogues to the receptor mediating inhibition of platelet adenylate cyclase.

Abstract: Clopidogrel, like the homologous thienopyridine derivative ticlopidine, selectively inhibits platelet aggregation induced by ADP. We have previously described two nucleotide-binding sites on platelets related to ADP-mediated platelet responses. The first is a high-affinity binding site for 2-methylthio-ADP (2-MeSADP) that is linked to the inhibition of stimulated adenylate cyclase. The second is the 100-kd exofacial membrane protein aggregin, which is labeled by the reactive ADP analogue 5'-p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyl adenosine (FSBA) that is related to shape change and aggregation. We set out to determine if either of these sites is blocked in vivo by clopidogrel or its active metabolite. Six subjects were given clopidogrel (75 mg/day for 10 days) in a double-blind crossover experiment. All of the subjects developed prolonged bleeding times while taking the drug. The rate of onset of the effect on bleeding time varied among subjects. Platelet aggregation induced by ADP or thrombin was significantly impaired by the drug treatment, but no effect was detected on shape change. The incorporation of [3H]FSBA into aggregin was also unaffected. Inhibition of adenylate cyclase by ADP or by 2-MeSADP was greatly reduced in all subjects, and in the case of 2-MeSADP, there was evidence for a noncompetitive effect. Inhibition of adenylate cyclase by epinephrine was unaffected. In the three subjects for whom binding measurements were made, the number of binding sites for [32P]2-MeSADP was reduced from 534 +/- 44 molecules per platelet during control and placebo periods (11 determinations) to 199 +/- 78 molecules per platelet during drug treatment (three determinations). There was no consistent change in the binding affinity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Illusion of control : invulnerability to negative affect and depressive symptoms after laboratory and natural stressors

Abstract: We examined whether individual differences in susceptibility to the illusion of control predicted differential vulnerability to depressive responses after a laboratory failure and naturally occurring life stressors. The illusion of control decreased the likelihood that subjects (N = 145) would (a) show immediate negative mood reactions to the laboratory failure, (b) become discouraged after naturally occurring negative life events, and (c) experience increases in depressive symptoms a month later given the occurrence of a high number of negative life events. In addition, the stress-moderating effect of the illusion of control on later depressive symptoms appeared to be mediated in part by its effect on reducing the discouragement subjects experienced from the occurrence of negative life events. These findings provide support for the hopelessness theory of depression and for the optimistic illusion-mental health link.