Showing papers by "University of Colorado Colorado Springs published in 2003"

Workplace spirituality and employee work attitudes: An exploratory empirical assessment

Abstract: One important question in the field of workplace spirituality concerns the relationship of this construct with employee work attitudes. This study attempts to make a rigorous empirical examination of the relationship between workplace spirituality and five prevalent employee job attitudinal variables. It assesses the validity and reliability of the measures used and discusses the results of the analysis, which indicate that each of the three dimensions of spirituality used has a significant relationship with two or more of the five job attitude variables examined. While acknowledging that spirituality at work is an abstract concept, this study attempts to provide some of the first empirical support that there is a positive association between spirituality at work and employee job outcomes. The paper concludes with a number of implications and research directions for both academics and business managers, including the need to investigate the comprehensive impact of spirituality at work on individuals and organizations.

In the Wake of 9-11: The Psychology of Terror

Abstract: Terror in America - The Day our World Changed Terror Management Theory - An Evolutionary Existential Account of Human Behaviour Terror Management Research - Coping with Conscious and Unconscious Death Related Thoughts Terror Management Research on Prejudice and Self-Esteem Striving Black Tuesday - The Psychology Impact of 9/11 Managing the Terror The Roots of Islamic Terrorism Giving Peace a Chance In the Wake of 9/11 Rising Above the Terror.

Particle swarm optimization

Abstract: Gerhard Venter (gventer_vrand.conl) *Vanderpla(ds Research and Development, bit.1767 S 8th St'reef. Suite 100, Colorado Springs. CO 80906Jaroslaw Sobieszczanski-Sobieski (j.sobieski:_larc.nasa.gov) *A_4SA Lcmgley Research Ce,_terMS 240, Hampton, I:4 23681-2199The purpose of this paper is to show how the search algorithm, known as par-ticle swarm optimization performs. Here, particle swarm optimization ks appliedto structural design problems, but the method.has a much wider range of possi-ble applications. The paper's new contributions are improvements to the particleswarm optimization algorithm and conclusions and recommendations as to theutility of the algorithm. Results of numerical experiments for both continuousand discrete applications are presented in the paper. The results indicate that theparticle swarm optimization algorithm does locate the constrained minimum de-sign in continuous applications with very good precision, albeit at a much highercomputational cost than that of a typical gradient based optimizer. However, thetrue potential of particle swarm optimization is primarily in applications withdiscrete and/or discontinuous functions and variables. Additionally, particleswarm optimization has the potential of e3_icient computation with very largenumbers of concurrently operating processors.

Power and Maximum Strength Relationships During Performance of Dynamic and Static Weighted Jumps

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of the 1 repetition maximum (1RM) squat to power output during countermovement and static weighted vertical squat jumps. The training experience of subjects (N = 22, 87.0 +/- 15.3 kg, 14.1 +/- 7.1% fat, 22.2 +/- 3.8 years) ranged from 7 weeks to 15+ years. Based on the 1RM squat, subjects were further divided into the 5 strongest and 5 weakest subjects (p

Literal and symbolic immortality: the effect of evidence of literal immortality on self-esteem striving in response to mortality salience

Abstract: Three studies investigated the effect of encouraging participants to believe in an afterlife on the relationship between mortality salience and self-esteem striving. Participants were exposed to essays arguing either in favor of or against the existence of an afterlife, and reminded about death or a control topic. Mortality salience led to increased accuracy ratings of a positive personality description (Studies 1 and 2) and increased striving for and defense of values (Study 3) among participants who read the essay arguing against an afterlife, but not among participants who read the essay in favor of it. The implications for the terror management analysis of self-esteem, the appeal of immortality beliefs, and the interplay between self-esteem striving and spiritual pursuits are discussed.

Fas engagement induces neurite growth through ERK activation and p35 upregulation.

Abstract: Fas (also known as CD95), a member of the tumour-necrosis receptor factor family of 'death receptors', can induce apoptosis or, conversely, can deliver growth stimulatory signals. Here we report that crosslinking Fas on primary sensory neurons induces neurite growth through sustained activation of the extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) pathway and the consequent upregulation of p35, a mediator of neurite outgrowth. In addition, functional recovery after sciatic nerve injury is delayed in Fas-deficient lpr mice and accelerated by local administration of antibodies against Fas, which indicates that Fas engagement may contribute to nerve regeneration in vivo. Our findings define a role for Fas as an inducer of both neurite growth in vitro and accelerated recovery after nerve injury in vivo.

Maximum strength-power-performance relationships in collegiate throwers.

Abstract: Presently the degree to which peak force influences power production or explosive performance such as strength training movements or throwing (shot-put and weight-throw) is unclear. This study describes the relationships between a measure of maximum strength, isometric peak force (IPF), dynamic peak force (PF), peak power (PP), the 1-repetition movement power snatch (SN), and throwing ability over an 8-week training period. Five male and 6 female (n 5 11) well-trained collegiate throwers participated. PF was measured using an AMTI force plate; PP was measured using an infrared-ultrasonic tracking device (V-Scope, Lipman Electronics). Clean pulls from the midthigh position were assessed isometrically and dynamically at a constant load, 30% and 60% of IPF. Specific explosive strength was evaluated using an SN and using the shot-put (SP) and weightthrow (WGT) measured under meet conditions. Variables (PF, PP, SN) were assessed 3 times at 0 weeks, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks. Each measurement period preceded a field meet by 3 days. Peak force, peak rate of force development, and PP increased over the 8 weeks. Correlation coefficients (r) indicate that IPF is strongly related to dynamic PF and PP 30%, 60% of the IPF. Furthermore, strong correlations were found for the SN and the distance for the SP and WGT, and these relationships tended to increase over time. Results suggest that maximum strength (i.e., IPF) is strongly associated with dynamic PF. In addition, maximum strength is strongly associated with PP even at relatively light loads such as those associated with sport-specific dynamic explosiveness (i.e., SN, SP, WGT).

Elicitation technique selection: how do experts do it?

Abstract: Requirements elicitation techniques are methods used by analysts to determine the needs of customers and users, so that systems can be built with a high probability of satisfying those needs. Analysts with extensive experience seem to be more successful than less experienced analysts in uncovering the user needs. Less experienced analysts often select a technique based on one of two reasons: (a) it is the only one they know, or (b) they think that a technique that worked well last time must surely be appropriate this time. We present the results of in-depth interviews with some of the world's most experienced analysts. These results demonstrate how they select elicitation techniques based on a variety of situational assessments.

Adaptive inverse control of linear and nonlinear systems using dynamic neural networks

Abstract: In this paper, we see adaptive control as a three-part adaptive-filtering problem. First, the dynamical system we wish to control is modeled using adaptive system-identification techniques. Second, the dynamic response of the system is controlled using an adaptive feedforward controller. No direct feedback is used, except that the system output is monitored and used by an adaptive algorithm to adjust the parameters of the controller. Third, disturbance canceling is performed using an additional adaptive filter. The canceler does not affect system dynamics, but feeds back plant disturbance in a way that minimizes output disturbance power. The techniques work to control minimum-phase or nonminimum-phase, linear or nonlinear, single-input-single-output (SISO) or multiple-input-multiple-ouput (MIMO), stable or stabilized systems. Constraints may additionally be placed on control effort for a practical implementation. Simulation examples are presented to demonstrate that the proposed methods work very well.

The eyes have it

Abstract: This paper evaluates the impact of eye localization on face recognition accuracy. To investigate its importance, we present an eye perturbation sensitivity analysis, as well as empirical evidence that reinforces the notion that eye localization plays a key role in the accuracy of face recognition systems. In particular, correct measurement of eye separation is shown to be more important than correct eye location, highlighting the critical role of eye separation in the scaling and normalization of face images. Results suggest that significant gains in recognition accuracy may be achieved by focussing more effort on the eye localization stage of the face recognition process.

Process for converting programs in high-level programming languages to a unified executable for hybrid computing platforms

Abstract: A system and method for compiling computer code written to conform to a high-level language standard to generate a unified executable containing the hardware logic for a reconfigurable processor, the instructions for a traditional processor (instruction processor), and the associated support code for managing execution on a hybrid hardware platform. Explicit knowledge of writing hardware-level design code is not required since the problem can be represented in a high-level language syntax. A top-level driver invokes a standard-conforming compiler that provides syntactic and a semantic analysis. The driver invokes a compilation phase that translates the CFG representation being generated into a hybrid controlflow-dataflow graph representation representing optimized pipelines logic which may be processed into a hardware description representation. The driver invokes a hardware description language (HDL) compiler to produce a netlist file that can be used to start the place-and-route compilation needed to produce a bitstream for the reconfigurable computer. The programming environment then provides support for taking the output from the compilation driver and combining all the necessary components together to produce a unified executable capable of running on both the instruction processor and reconfigurable processor.

The art of requirements triage

Abstract: Driven by an increasingly competitive market, companies add features and compress schedules for the delivery of every product, often creating a complete mismatch of requirements and resources that results in products failing to satisfy customer needs. Triage is the process of determining which requirements a product should satisfy given the time and resources available. The author presents three product development case studies and 14 recommendations for practicing this neglected art.

Requirements elicitation and elicitation technique selection: model for two knowledge-intensive software development processes

Abstract: By its very nature, software development consists of many knowledge-intensive processes. One of the most difficult to model, however, is requirements elicitation. This paper presents a mathematical model of the requirements elicitation process that clearly shows the critical role of knowledge in its performance. One meta-process of requirements elicitation, selection of an appropriate elicitation technique, is also captured in the model. The values of this model are: (1) improved understanding of what needs to be performed during elicitation helps analysts improve their elicitation efforts, (2) improved understanding of how elicitation techniques are selected helps less experienced analysts be as successful as more experienced analysts, and (3) as we improve our ability to perform elicitation, we improve the likelihood that the systems we create meet their intended customers' needs. Many papers have been written that promulgate specific elicitation methods. A few have been written that model elicitation in general. However, none have yet to model elicitation in a way that makes clear the critical role played by knowledge. This paper's model captures the critical roles played by knowledge in both elicitation and elicitation technique selection.

Psychological Defense in Anticipation of Anxiety Eliminating the Potential for Anxiety Eliminates the Effect of Mortality Salience on Worldview Defense

Abstract: A large body of research has shown that when people are reminded of their mortality, their defense of their cultural worldview intensifies. Although some psychological defenses seem to be instigated by negative affective responses to threat, mortality salience does not appear to arouse such affect. Terror management theory posits that the potential to experience anxiety, rather than the actual experience of anxiety, underlies these effects of mortality salience. If this is correct, then mortality-salience effects should be reduced when participants believe they are not capable of reacting to the reminder of mortality with anxiety. In a test of this hypothesis, participants consumed a placebo purported to either block anxiety or enhance memory. Then we manipulated mortality salience, and participants evaluated pro- and anti-American essays as a measure of worldview defense. Although mortality salience intensified worldview defense in the memory-enhancer condition, this effect was completely eliminated in the anxiety-blocker condition. The results suggest that some psychological defenses serve to avert the experience of anxiety rather than to ameliorate actually experienced anxiety.

Let it be sexual: how health care transmission of AIDS in Africa was ignored.

Abstract: The consensus among influential AIDS experts that heterosexual transmission accounts for 90% of HIV infections in African adults emerged no later than 1988. We examine evidence available through 1988, including risk measures associating HIV with sexual behaviour, health care, and socioeconomic variables, HIV in children, and risks for HIV in prostitutes and STD patients. Evidence permits the interpretation that health care exposures caused more HIV than sexual transmission. In general population studies, crude risk measures associate more than half of HIV infections in adults with health care exposures. Early studies did not resolve questions about direction of causation (between injections and HIV) and confound (between injections and STD). Preconceptions about African sexuality and a desire to maintain public trust in health care may have encouraged discounting of evidence. We urge renewed, evidence-based, investigations into the proportion of African HIV from non-sexual exposures.

Mobile Radio Communications

Abstract: Mobile communications has been of interest since the earliest days of wireless communications. First applications involved ship-to-shore and ship-to-ship telegraphy as well as telegraphy to moving trains. The development of AM radio, and later FM radio, resulted in mobile voice communication systems. The development of the cellular radio concept gave to rise to mobile telephones that were both practical and inexpensive. The growth of the cellular telephone industry exceeded all expectations and, in many environments, the bulk of telephone traffic is now handled by wireless cellular systems. This article details this history and describes the essential features of mobile radio systems, including the cellular concept, mobile radio channels, and multiple access techniques. First, second and third generation commercial cellular systems are discussed and their capabilities are compared. Keywords: wireless communications; mobile communications; cellular systems; multiple access systems; CDMA; time-division multiple access; frequency-division multiple access

Crossover Sexual Offenses

Abstract: Crossover sexual offenses are defined as those in which victims are from multiple age, gender, and relationship categories. This study investigates admissions of crossover sexual offending from sex offenders participating in treatment who received polygraph testing. For 223 incarcerated and 266 paroled sexual offenders, sexual offenses were recorded from criminal history records and admissions during treatment coupled with polygraph testing. The majority of incarcerated offenders admitted to sexually assaulting both children and adults from multiple relationship types. In addition, there was a substantial increase in offenders admitting to sexually assaulting victims from both genders. In a group of incarcerated offenders who sexually assaulted children, the majority of offenders admitted to sexually assaulting both relatives and nonrelatives, and there was a substantial increase in the offenders admitting to assaulting both male and female children. Although similar trends were observed for the sample of parolees, the rates were far less dramatic. Parolees appeared to have greater levels of denial, had participated in fewer treatment sessions, and perceived greater supervision restrictions as a result of admitting additional offenses. These findings support previous research indicating that many sexual offenders do not exclusively offend against a preferred victim type.

System and method for conveting control flow graph representations to control-dataflow graph representations

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes a method of forming a control-dataflow graph that includes separating a control flow graph into two or more basic blocks, and converting said two or more basic blocks into code blocks, where the code blocks are formed into the control-dataflow graph. Another embodiment of the invention includes a method of forming a control-dataflow graph that includes separating a control flow graph into two or more basic blocks, forming a lode node in at least one of said basic blocks, forming a store node in at least one of said code blocks, inserting a delay node in at least one of said code blocks, segregating external hardware logic modules from said control flow graph, and converting said two or more basic blocks into code blocks, wherein the code blocks are formed into the control-dataflow graph.

Assessing the role of anal intercourse in the epidemiology of AIDS in Africa.

Abstract: Public health authorities have long believed that the preponderance of AIDS cases in Africa are attributable to 'heterosexual transmission'; most people silently assume this rubric to indicate penile-vaginal intercourse only. Recent epidemiologic analyses suggest that the majority of HIV cases in sub-Saharan Africa may be due to non-sterile health care practices. The present paper reviews the anthropological, proctologic, and infectious disease literature, and argues that both homosexuality and heterosexual anal intercourse are more prevalent in Africa than has traditionally been believed. The authors hypothesize that perhaps the majority of HIV transmission not accounted for by iatrogenic exposure could be accounted for by unsuspected and unreported penile-anal intercourse. Given the authors' findings, properly conducted studies to measure this HIV transmission vector, while controlling for iatrogenic exposure confound, are clearly warranted in Africa and in countries with similar epidemiologic characteristics.

Effects of trauma-focused research on recent domestic violence survivors.

Abstract: This study investigated the impact of trauma-focused research on domestic violence survivors. At the end of a survey assessing psychological distress, abuse severity, coping self-efficacy (CSE), and cognitions, questionnaire items were utilized to assess participants' levels of gain, unexpected upset, and regret of participation. Participants were 55 women who had recently experienced abuse by a partner. Forty-five percent reported positive gain from participation, 25% reported they were more upset than anticipated, and a minority of women (6%) expressed regret for participation. Results indicated that women who were more upset than expected scored significantly higher on depression, PTSD, and number of lifetime traumas, and significantly lower on CSE. Implications for enhancement of consent form documents and debriefing procedures are addressed.

Superhumps in Cataclysmic Binaries. XXIV. Twenty More Dwarf Novae

Abstract: We report precise measures of the orbital and superhump period in 20 more dwarf novae. For 10 stars, we report new and confirmed spectroscopic periods—signifying the orbital period —as well as the P o

Heterosexual transmission of HIV in Africa: an empiric estimate.

Abstract: For more than a decade, most experts have assumed that more than 90% of HIV in African adults results from heterosexual transmission. In this exercise, we show how data from studies of risk factors for HIV can be used to estimate the proportion from sexual transmission, and we present our estimates. Calculating two ways from available data, our two point estimates - we do not estimate confidence intervals - are that 25-29% of HIV incidence in African women and 30-35% in men is attributable to sexual transmission; these estimates assume 10% annual epidemic growth. These findings call for reconceptualization of research to more accurately assess routes of HIV transmission.

Integrated circuit with enhanced coupling

Abstract: A system for conveying a radio frequency (RF) signal from a base station (16) to a detached integrated circuit (IC) has an intermediate resonant circuit (4) and an IC (2). The intermediate resonant circuit is configured to resonate in response to the RF signal from the base station, reproducing the RF signal. The IC has an integral resonant circuit (6, 8, 10) configured to resonate in response to the reproduced RF signal. The IC and the intermediate resonant circuit are affixed proximate each other. Both are separate from the base station and each other. Either or both of the intermediate resonant circuit and the integral resonant circuit may contact a high magnetic permeability layer. The intermediate resonant circuit may be formed of conductive ink.

System and method for mapping between and controlling different device abstractions

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for configuring and managing networked communication systems. For example, an exemplary system and/or method according to one embodiment uses an information model to map between normalized representations of different network resources having different features. Moreover, the information model can represent different devices, different programming models, and/or different functionalities in a common representation, which is then used to configure and manage different network elements (e.g., different devices).

Accurate determination of complex materials coefficients of piezoelectric resonators

Abstract: This paper presents a method of accurately determining the complex piezoelectric and elastic coefficients of piezoelectric ceramic resonators from the measurement of the normalized electric admittance, Y~, which is electric admittance Y of piezoelectric resonator normalized by the angular frequency /spl omega/. The coefficients are derived from the measurements near three special frequency points that correspond to the maximum and the minimum normalized susceptance (B~) and the maximum normalized conductance (G~). The complex elastic coefficient is determined from the frequencies at these points, and the real and imaginary parts of the piezoelectric coefficient are related to the derivative of the susceptance with respect to the frequency and the asymmetry of the conductance, respectively, near the maximum conductance point. The measurements for some lead zirconate titanate (PZT) based ceramics are used as examples to demonstrate the calculation and experimental procedures and the comparisons with the standard methods.

The Pathology of Rotavirus-Associated Deaths, Using New Molecular Diagnostics

Abstract: Rotavirus, the most common cause of severe, dehydrating gastroenteritis among children worldwide, annually causes ∼500,000 deaths among children aged <5 years. The primary site of rotavirus infection is the small intestine. Pathologic investigations of patients who died of rotavirus infection are limited to data from a few reported autopsies, and dehydration with electrolyte imbalance is believed to be the major cause of death. Several recent reports suggest that children who died during a rotavirus illness were viremic before death, because rotavirus was detected at several extraintestinal sites. We report 3 rotavirus-associated deaths among children, 2 of whom had evidence of rotavirus genome in extraintestinal tissues detected by use of novel molecular diagnostic methods. The part played by rotavirus in fatal cases is unclear and requires additional investigation of diarrhea-associated deaths, because a better understanding might alter the approach to treatment and the need for antiviral therapy.