bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A structure of multiband agc equalizer for digital subscriber transmission
Authors: Miki Noriki , Tamaki Norio
Published: July 2007

The metal subscriber transmission cable is a cascade connection of cables with different core radius and line length. To realize a digital subscriber transmission equalizer with a high accuracy requires an equalizer which does not produce an equalization error because of differences of core radius or cable length.

This paper presents a multiband AGC equalizer to absorb the difference of core radius and line length whereby the filter coefficients are determined so that the equalization is optimized at several frequencies. Also, its construction, control by DFT and the design for parameters based on linear programming are presented. Based on the results of those investigations, an equalizer is constructed. By a transmission experiment using the actual transmission line, the equalization ability was verified.
Stability and throughput analysis for csma/cd system
Authors: Fujiwara Chikato , Yasuda Chikara , Okumoto Takaaki
Published: July 2007

This study considers the 1‐persistent CSMA/CD system and Ether‐type CSMA/CD system using binary exponential back‐off algorithm. The formula is derived for the average drift of the number of back‐logged terminals, and the stability is discussed.

As a result, it is shown that the stability of 1‐persistent CSMA/CD system is related closely to the retransmission rate. An instability may result when the retransmission rate is high. It is verified for the stable case that the number of backlogged terminals at the stable point, where the average drift is 0, is strictly the same as the average number of back‐logged terminals obtained by a strict analysis or a simulation.

The average back‐logs can easily be obtained based on the average drift. Utilizing this property, a kind of equilibrium analysis is presented, assuming that the number of back‐logged terminals remains at the average value. The approximation of the proposed analysis is not very good for low traffic. Compared with the conventional analysis, it has the feature that it is simple and the accuracy is improved for high traffic.

In general, the performance for low traffic is not affected greatly by the system structure. Consequently, the proposed analysis has a great merit in that the stability of the system as well as the performance for high traffic can easily be examined.
Performance of a decision feedback equalizer under frequency‐selective fading in land mobile communications
Authors: Nakajima Makito , Sampei Seiichi
Published: July 2007

Some means to cope with frequency‐selective fading is indispensable to the realization of a wideband digital mobile communication, and various investigations have been made to this end. For example, the decision feedback equalizer (DFE) is considered promising, since it requires smaller‐scale equipment and is versatile in applications.

The application of DFE to mobile communication requires tracking to the time‐varying channel as well as the fast initial adaptation. Thus, comprehensive investigations, including the construction of the equalizer and tap‐updating algorithm are needed.

The Kalman algorithm is employed as the tap‐updating algorithm. By introducing the memory factor into the algorithm, the tracking performance to the time‐varying channel is improved as well as the speed of the initial adaptation.

A computer simulation is made for the proposed method based on the model of 256 kbit/s TDMA system with QPSK modulation. It is verified that DFE is useful in compensating for the frequency‐selective fading in mobile communication.
Objective picture quality scale by neural networks (PQS‐NN)
Authors: Kotani Kazunori , Miyahara Makoto
Published: July 2007

The scale for evaluating the picture quality of coded pictures objectively becomes very important because some high‐efficiency coding techniques (e.g., DCT and VQ) are applied to the practical stage. An objective picture quality scale (PQS) has been proposed which approximates well the mean opinion score (MOS) by analyzing the perceptual properties of image distortions and using multiple regression analysis (MRA) to construct a linear combination of the essential factors of distortions extracted from the fundamental distortions by principal component analysis (PCA).

In this paper, a new objective picture quality scale (PQS) is obtained by three‐layered neural networks feeding the coded error images to the input layer and giving the mean opinion scores as a target. No knowledge of visual perception is given to neural networks.

After learning that the mean opinion score of open test images (out of learning) is approximated well by neural networks, it is shown that neural networks (or NN) estimate MOS well with two hidden units and that the estimate performance is improved with an increase in the number of learning images. A very interesting fact is clarified, i.e., NN learned the same functions as visual perceptions. An objective picture quality scale, with considerable precision in estimating test images without professional knowledge about perceptual properties, can be obtained by using this new objective picture quality scale PQS‐NN.
A packet‐switched networks optimization method with a different kind of channel rate for each link and the fairness on grade of service
Authors: Liu Xiao‐Ming , Igarashi Jin , Miyamoto Hikaru
Published: July 2007

The capacity assignment problem of the packet‐switched network is to determine each link capacity (channel rate and number of channels) to minimize the total cost of the network, based on the given network topology and the link traffic, and under the constraint for service quality. Most past designs have discussed the simple network model in which the cost and the channel rate are in linear relation, and the channel rate can be set as an arbitrary value.

Recently, several studies have been made considering the discreteness of the channel rate, but most of them consider only a single kind of channel. This paper proposes a link design method for the packet‐switched network which considers different kinds of channels, with the average delay of the packet for each destination in the network as the constraint. More precisely, the design procedure is divided into three parts and modified into the general nonlinear optimization problem to optimize the network. Through numerical examples, the accuracy and the effectiveness of the proposed method are demonstrated.
Majority logic combination sequences using m‐sequences for rapid acquisition in direct sequence/spread spectrum communication systems
Authors: Tachikawa Shin‐Ichi , Marubayashi Gen
Published: July 2007

Rapid acquisition is an important problem in the direct sequence spread spectrum communication system, especially when code length is long. This paper proposes a novel code construction method of making rapid acquisition, in which majority logic combination sequences constructed from M‐sequences mutually of prime length (hereafter M‐MAJ sequences) are used. By tacking cross‐correlation of incoming M‐MAJ sequence with component M‐sequences at the receiver, acquisition time can be reduced considerably. Calculated results of the average acquisition time and comparisons with conventional code construction methods (JPL sequence, concatenated sequence) are shown.
Focusing properties of leaky‐microwave from equiangular spiral slotted rectangular waveguide
Authors: Ohtera Isao , Ujiie Hiroshi
Published: July 2007

Previously, the authors proposed an equiangular spiral slotted rectangular waveguide (SSW).

The present paper examines various unique characteristics in the fields near the focus such as phase anomalies, focal shifts, behavior of Poynting vectors, etc., and the frequency dependency of focusing properties with respect to changes of the excitation frequency. As a result, it was found that SSW had similar various characteristics near the focus for an ordinary axisymmetric optical system. It was clarified that SSW also had additional unique asymmetric properties arising from structural asymmetry and its operation as a two‐dimensional focusing system.
Prioritized resolvable‐contention‐ring access control scheme
Authors: Sittichivapak Suvepon , Okada Hiromi , Tezuka Yoshikazu , Maekawa Sadao
Published: July 2007

This paper proposes a prioritized resolvable‐contention‐ring scheme for high‐speed optical communication networks and investigates its performance. The priority mechanism is based on the time‐token control scheme. This mechanism attempts to guarantee the frame delay of time‐critical traffic by controlling the frame transmission of noncritical traffic. The noncritical frame can be transmitted only if token rotation time is faster than target rotation time.

This paper examines the priority mechanism in the case of two priority levels and also in the case of four priority levels. System performance is studied using a computer simulation method with a time‐continuous simulator.

The validity of the priority mechanism is demonstrated in a comparison with a fiber distributed data interface (FDDI) and the nonprioritized resolvable‐contention ring. Efficient operation of the priority mechanism is investigated by considering the buffer overflow rate of each priority class. The proposed scheme performs effectively. Moreover, the performance of FDDI is comparatively degraded because of long token waiting time and large token capture time.
Radio propagation characteristics in navigation experiment using ETS—V satellite
Authors: Migaki Mitsuhiko
Published: July 2007

This paper describes the results of the radio propagation experiment between an aircraft or a ship and a ground earth station by means of the Engineering Test Satellite V (ETS‐V) as a part of the navigation experiment program which is aimed at developing the technology for utilizing a satellite for navigation assistance by a ship and for control of an aircraft of the ocean.

First, the antenna on a moving vehicle is summarized. Next, the experimental results with each moving vehicle are described with regard to the magnitude and the periodicity of the received signal level. The results were analyzed and the cause of the level variation was found in some cases.

The magnitude of the variation of the signal level (fading range) was about 6 dB at the maximum for the elevation angle of the satellite from 45° to less than 10° in the case of the experiment with an aircraft. In the case of a ship, the magnitude increased with a decreasing satellite elevation angle. In the case of a one‐element antenna with a gain of 6 dBi, the magnitude of variation was more than 10 dB at an elevation angle of 10°. The periodicity of the variation was investigated by deriving the frequency components by means of the Fourier transform.

In most cases for an aircraft, no remarkable frequency characteristic was observed and the spectrum was flat at the frequency range of less than 25 Hz. On the other hand, in the case of a ship, the components less than 1 Hz are predominant at a low satellite elevation angle. Hence, it is clear that the nature of the reflection is different in the aircraft and the ship. For the latter, the reflection from the ocean surface is predominant.
Monitoring of the sediment dynamics along a sandy shoreline by means of airborne hyperspectral remote sensing and LIDAR: a case study in Belgium
Authors: Deronde B. , Houthuys R. , Henriet J.‐P. , Lancker V. Van
Published: July 2007

Airborne hyperspectral data and airborne laserscan or LIDAR data were applied to analyse the sediment transport and the beach morphodynamics along the Belgian shoreline. Between 2000 and 2004, four airborne acquisitions were performed with both types of sensor. The hyperspectral data were classified into seven sand type classes following a supervised classification approach, in which feature selection served to reduce the number of bands in the hyperspectral data. The seven classes allowed us to analyse the spatial dynamics of specific sediment volumes. The technique made it possible to distinguish the sand used for berm replenishment works or for beach nourishments from the sand naturally found on the backshore and the foreshore. Subtracting sequential DTMs (digital terrain models) resulted in height difference maps indicating the erosion and accretion zones. The combination of both data types, hyperspectral data and LIDAR data, provides a powerful tool, suited to analyse the dynamics of sandy shorelines. The technique was demonstrated on three sites along the Belgian shoreline: Koksijde, located on the West Coast and characterized by wide accretional beaches, influenced by dry berm replenishment works and the construction of groins; Zeebrugge, on the Middle Coast, where a beach nourishment was executed one year before the acquisitions started and where the dams of the harbour of Zeebrugge are responsible for the formation of a large accretional beach, and Knokke‐Heist, located on the East Coast and characterized by narrow, locally reflective, beaches, heavily influenced by nourishment activities. The methodology applied allowed retrieval of the main sediment transport directions as well as the amount of sediment transported. It proved to be specifically suited to follow up the redistribution and the re‐sorting of the fill in beach nourishment areas. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimization of mechanical structures under special consideration of materials
Authors: Vietor Thomas , van den Akker Simon
Published: July 2007

Structural and Mechanical Optimization Problems are well distributed and described in literature. A high number of applications from different industry fields are publicated. Due to increasing demands for performance improvement together with reduced weight and costs the specific consideration of material laws and uncertainties into optimization problems in mechanical engineering is required. This paper presents an overview about Stochastic Structural Optimization as far as required to consider specific material laws. The application of structural stochastic optimization with specific material laws is illustrated at different test and industrial examples:

• Ten‐Bar System as standard test application with elastic material law and scattering material parameters

• Ceramic Mirror with brittle ceramic materials

• Powertrain Mounting System with nonlinear rubber material

• Large scale Vehicle Body Structure with plastic material. Here the application will be presented and one of the commercial software systems. The details of this example will be publicated in the future. The numerical evaluation of this example is very expensive and time consuming. This is the one reason why stochastic optimization is not well distributed already.

The presented examples are results of different projects the authors has worked at in the last 12 years at university and industry. About a decade ago stochastic optimization routines were still programmed in small working groups at universities. To increase the application to different industry branches, commercial software has to be used. There are a number of software packages on the market claiming the capability of stochastic optimization as well. In the next time these packages will be tested at different applications. This will be part of the planned publication in the future. The Vehicle Body Structure example in this paper will outline the task without going into the details. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Sesquiterpenoids from Ligularia dentata
Authors: Baba Hitomi , Yaoita Yasunori , Kikuchi Masao
Published: July 2007

Five new compounds were isolated from the roots of Ligularia dentata, including four bisabolane‐type sesquiterpenoids, 1–4, as well a new eudesmane, 5. The previously isolated 3α,6α,9‐tris(angeloyloxy)‐2α,4β‐dihydroxy‐7,11‐epoxybisabol‐10(15)‐en‐5‐one (6), when left as an oil in a refrigerator over nine months, gave rise to a mixture of two positional isomers, 7 and 8. Their formation is rationalized by means of epoxide ring opening and shift of an angeloyl (Ang) group. The structures of compounds 1–5, 7, and 8 were established by in‐depth spectroscopic (UV, CD, IR, 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR) as well as mass‐spectrometric methods.
Immobilized DNA aptamers used as potent attractors for porcine endothelial precursor cells
Authors: Hoffmann Jan , Paul Angela , Harwardt Marc , Groll Jürgen , Reeswinkel Thomas , Klee Doris , Moeller Martin , Fischer Heike , Walker Tobias , Greiner Tim , Ziemer Gerhard , Wendel Hans P.
Published: July 2007

Because of their insufficient biocompatibility and high thrombogenicity, small diameter artificial vascular prostheses still do not show a satisfactory patency rate. In vitro endothelialization of artificial grafts before implantation has been established experimentally years ago, but, this procedure is extremely time consuming and expensive. This study deals with the coating of graft surfaces with capture molecules (aptamers) for circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), mimicking a prohoming substrate to fish out EPCs from the bloodstream after implantation and to create an autologous functional endothelium. Using the SELEX technology, aptamers with a high affinity to EPCs were identified, isolated, and grafted onto polymeric discs using a blood compatible star‐PEG coating. A porcine in vitro model that demonstrates the specific adhesion of EPCs and their differentiation into vital endothelial‐like cells within 10 days in cell culture is presented. We suggest that the rapid adhesion of EPCs to aptamer‐coated implants could be useful to promote endothelial wound healing and to prevent increased neointimal hyperplasia. We hypothesize that future in vivo self‐endothelialization of blood contacting implants by homing factor mimetic capture molecules for EPCs may bring revolutionary new perspectives towards clinical applications of stem cell and tissue engineering strategies. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2008
Organizational and behavioural consequences of uncertainty: A case study
Authors: Clegg Chris , Fitter Mike
Published: July 2007

This paper examines some of the organizational and behavioural consequences of uncertainty through consideration of a case study. An industrial firm and its problems are described and an attempt is made to understand the origins of the situation using a systems analysis which draws on constructs from the structural, the behavioural and the ‘bureaucratic’ traditions within organization theory. The analysis demonstrates: that the problems are interrelated and stem from the structural arrangements in the firm which are unable to cope with the prevailing uncertainties; that the behavioural difficulties may be seen as manifestations of the underlying structural/environmental mismatch; and, that the problems are exacerbated by apparently logical but paradoxically inappropriate managerial choices and responses. The implications of this study for theory, practice and method are discussed.
The effects of work site, supervisory status, and job function on nuclear workers' responses to the TMI accident
Authors: Chisholm Rupert F. , Kasl Stanislav V.
Published: July 2007

This study examines the impact of the Three Mile Island accident on nuclear workers (N = 622) at the accident site and a ‘control’ plant in the same general area. Effects of the accident are examined by respondents' plant location, supervisory status, and basic job function. Major accident effects include perceived radiation exposure during the incident, evacuation behaviour, uncertainty and conflict regarding the accident, job related attitudes and tension, symptoms experienced during the accident period, and demoralization. Several of these general outcomes vary according to supervisory status and functional work area.
After‐effects of job‐related stress: Families as victims
Authors: Jackson Susan E. , Maslach Christina
Published: July 2007

In recent years, the unique stress experienced by those who do ‘people work’ has been acknowledged by the helping professions as a widespread problem and has been recognized by social scientists as a topic requiring systematic research. This paper begins by briefly reviewing research on the type of job stress experienced by workers in the helping professions. Then, a study of 142 police couples is reported, illustrating the effects of job stress on family life. In a survey study, police officers and their wives described family interactions. Officers who were experiencing stress, as measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory, were more likely to display anger, spend time off away from the family, be uninvolved in family matters, and to have unsatisfactory marriages. An examination of the coping patterns used to deal with the stress of police work highlights differences between coping strategies used by husbands versus wives.
The changing pictures of the relationship between career and family
Authors: Evans Paul , Bartolomé Fernando
Published: July 2007

This paper discusses how male managers perceive the relationship between their careers and family lives. The authors suggest that a typology of perceptions is necessary to describe this relationship. The way individuals perceive the relationship is influenced by the emotional outcomes of work and the relative importance of work in the life of the person. While the former is mostly the consequence of the job‐person fit, the latter is closely linked to the individual's life stage. Thus, work appears to be the more significant environment in an individual's early adult stages, while family and private life become the more salient environment later in life.
Social movements, the occupational arena and changes in career consciousness: The case of women flight attendants
Authors: Lessor Roberta
Published: July 2007

The impact of social movements as a major environmental influence in the evolution of career consciousness was analysed based on extensive interviews of women flight attendants. The aim was to elicit the women's view of their work lives over the past two decades. Flight attendants working in the 1960s entered with the expectation of a short‐term job. From their accounts of personal development and from reviews of newspaper accounts, court cases and union documents, the influence of three major social movements became apparent. The Civil Rights Movement prompted flight attendants to challenge the legality of airline rules that prevented them from working past age 32. The Women's Movement reinforced the value and seriousness of women's commitment to a career and enabled flight attendants to challenge traditional notions of the incompatibility of occupation and family. The Occupational Health Movement, by addressing the collective problems of creating a healthy work environment, mobilized women flight attendants to recognize their long‐term career investment. The findings suggest that social movements provide an additional dimension that is relevant for the future study of career development and continuing occupational socialization.
Family structure, job characteristics, rewards and strains as related to work‐role centrality of employed and self‐employed professional women with children
Authors: Mannheim Bilha , Schiffrin Meira
Published: July 2007

This study of the work‐role centrality (WRC) of 419 professional women with children in Israel was carried out by means of a mailed questionnaire. WRC measures cognitive investments in the work role, relative to the person's other roles. The results show that these women generally are highly work‐centred, autonomous and rewarded, and experience little work overload, but some person‐role conflict on the job. Employment status, job scope, job autonomy and career anchorage, as well as job rewards, especially intrinsic, are strongly related to work‐role centrality. Family characteristics are not related to WRC. Despite their demanding jobs, these women still perform the traditionally feminine tasks in the family, even when husbands are supportive. Employment status is an important intervening variable in the relationship of WRC and other job characteristics.
Satisfaction with a performance appraisal system and appraisal discussion
Authors: Mount Michael K.
Published: July 2007

Satisfaction with a performance appraisal system and the appraisal discussion was assessed by questionnaires administered to a random sample of managers and employees in a large multinational corporation. Stepwise regression and cross validation analyses were used to identify reliable linear composites for managers (n = 222) and employees (n = 368) on two dependent measures: overall experience with the appraisal system, and quality of the appraisal discussion. The results indicated differences in the aspects of the appraisal process which are related to satisfaction with the appraisal discussion, compared to satisfaction with the overall appraisal system. The results also indicated differences between managers' and employees' opinions regarding the appraisal system. Managers were found to be more satisfied than employees with most aspects of the appraisal system. And, the aspects of the appraisal system which were related to managers' and employees' satisfaction with the appraisal discussion were substantially different.
The impact of primary life involvements on turnover: A comparison of part‐time and full‐time employees
Authors: Werbel James D.
Published: July 2007

This paper compares the factors which affect the decision of part‐time and full‐time employees to leave an organization. The decision is hypothesized to be contingent on primary life involvements. A sample of 154 registered nurses, with families, was used. The results demonstrated that primary life involvements were useful for predicting turnover of part‐time employees only. The results were integrated with research which suggests that different types of attitudes predict turnover of part‐time and full‐time employees.
Job involvement as a moderator variable in the life events stress–illness relationship
Authors: Innes J. M. , Clarke Adrienne
Published: July 2007

It is hypothesized that the relationship between life events and reported symptoms of psychological and physical illness is moderated by the extent to which a person is job‐involved. Analysis of the data in a sample of employed men shows large correlations between a measure of life events and reported symptoms for men with low job involvement, substantially higher than where the men are highly job‐involved.
The effects of social support on nuclear worker responses to the Three Mile Island accident
Authors: Chisholm Rupert F. , Kasl Stanislav V. , Mueller Lloyd
Published: July 2007

This study examines the effects of social support on the reactions of nuclear workers at the Three Mile Island plant and a comparison site to stress during the 1979 crisis. Results show broad main effects of social support on stress, strain, and health outcome variables. Moderating effects of support are highly selective and become less extensive as the hypothesized stress process moves from stress to strain to health outcomes. Findings are compared between the two nuclear plants and with other studies conducted under non‐crisis conditions.
The accumulation of person‐environment congruences and well‐being
Authors: Meir Elchanan I. , Melamed Samuel
Published: July 2007

The impact of the additivity of three aspects of person‐environment congruence — vocational, avocational and skill utilization — to well‐being was assessed by four measures: occupational satisfaction, work satisfaction, somatic complaints and anxiety. Subjects were 74 female teachers. Findings showed: (a) the three congruence aspects were not interrelated; (b) all congruence aspects were correlated with all well‐being measures in the expected direction; and (c) combinations of the three congruence aspects had an additive effect: the higher the number of congruence aspects the higher the well‐being. The implications of congruence additivity to stress research and to vocational counselling was discussed.
Winners and losers: Employee perceptions of their company's technological transformation
Authors: Roskies Ethel , Liker Jeffrey K. , Roitman David B.
Published: July 2007

This paper reports an unusual opportunity to explore the range of reactions that a company's technological transformation aroused in its workforce. Based on tape recordings of interviews conducted with 56 of the 141 employees, individuals were categorized on the basis of their perception of proportion of personal gains to losses: 21 were identified as winners, 17 as losers, and 18 as sideliners. Concurrently, researchers independently rated the job fate of each individual as a result of the changes, classifying jobs as protected/enhanced, threatened/diminished or unaffected. Losers were similar to winners in their belief in the need for change, their strong identification with the company, and even the amount of job disruption already experienced. Where they differed significantly, was in their perception of the future; losers feared that they would not have a place in the new company or elsewhere, and from their perspective job content was clearly irrelevant until and unless job security, or at least employment elsewhere, was assured. Losers' fears could not be dismissed simply as ‘resistance to change’ but had some basis in reality in that there was a strong correlation between loser status and threatened diminished job status, as judged by external observers. Based on these findings, the argument is made that research on the human consequences of technological transformation cannot be limited only to positive or negative effects, but should include a consideration of both; the recognition of the complexity and differential impact of technological change constitutes a first step in being able both to foster its progress while, at the same time, seeking means to moderate its negative consequences.
Occupational stress among health care workers: A test of the job demands‐control model
Authors: Landsbergis Paul A.
Published: July 2007

Models of occupational stress have often failed to make explicit the variable of control over the environment, as well as the role of job socialization in shaping personality characteristics and coping behaviours. This neglect has helped maintain the focus of stress reduction interventions on the individual. A new model of occupational stress developed by Robert Karasek incorporates control and socialization effects and has successfully predicted the development of heart disease and psychological strain.

A survey instrument derived from the model was distributed to 771 hospital and nursing home employees in New Jersey, and 289 (37.5 per cent) were returned. Respondents did not significantly differ from non‐respondents by age, sex, job tenure, union membership status, job satisfaction, job perceptions and attitude towards employer and union.

The results support the hypothesis that reported job strain (job dissatisfaction, depression, psychosomatic symptoms) and burnout is significantly higher in jobs that combine high workload demands with low decision latitude. This association remained significant after controlling for age, sex, education, marital status, children, hours worked per week and shift worked. Other job characteristics (job insecurity, physical exertion, social support, hazard exposure) were also associated with strain and burnout.

The survey instrument also identified high strain jobtitles in the surveyed workplaces. The results are discussed in relation to directions for future research, research on stress in nursing, and approaches to stress reduction.
Does urethral competence affect urodynamic voiding parameters in women with prolapse?
Authors: Nygaard Ingrid , Kreder Karl , Mueller Elizabeth , Brubaker Linda , Goode Patricia , Visco Anthony , Weber Anne M. , Cundiff Geoff , Wei John
Published: July 2007

Aims

To (1) compare voiding parameters and (2) correlate symptoms and urodynamic findings in women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and varying degrees of urethral competence.

Methods

We compared three groups of women with stages II–IV POP. Groups 1 and 2 were symptomatically stress continent women participating in the Colpopexy and Urinary Reduction Efforts (CARE) trial; during prolapse reduction before sacrocolpopexy, Group 1 (n = 67) did not have and Group 2 (n = 84) had urodynamic stress incontinence (USI) during prolapse reduction. Group 3 participants (n = 74), recruited specifically for this study, had stress urinary incontinence (SUI) symptoms and planned sacrocolpopexy. Participants completed standardized uroflowmetry, pressure voiding studies, and validated symptom questionnaires.

Results

Subjects' median age was 61 years, median parity 3 and 87% had stage III or IV POP. Fourteen percent of women in Group 3 demonstrated USI without, and 70% with, prolapse reduction. Women in Groups 2 and 3 had more detrusor overactivity (DO) than Group 1 (17 and 24% vs. 6%, P = 0.02) and detrusor overactivity incontinence (DOI) (15 and 8% vs. 0%, P = 0.004). Based on the Blaivis–Groutz nomogram, 60% of all women were obstructed. Post‐void residual volume (PVR), peak flow rate, detrusor pressure at peak flow, voiding mechanisms, voiding patterns, obstruction and urinary retention did not differ among groups. Women in Group 3 had higher irritative and obstructive symptom scores than Group 1 or 2; neither score differed by presence of DO nor obstruction, respectively.

Conclusion

Women with POP have significant rates of urodynamic obstruction and retention, independent of their continence status. Symptoms of obstruction and retention correlate poorly with urodynamic findings. Neurourol. Urodynam. 26:1030–1035, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The extracorporeal perfusion of the female pig detrusor as an experimental model for the study of bladder contractility
Authors: Dittrich Ralf , Beckmann Matthias W. , Maake Caroline , Oppelt Patricia G. , Mueller Andreas , Mueller Siegfried , Hoffmann Inge , Naumann Gert , Koelbl Heinz , Maltaris Theodoros
Published: July 2007

Aims

The objective of the study was to establish an experimental model for the extracorporeal perfusion of the pig detrusor. In order to validate this model we examined some biochemical parameters and determined the effect of carbachol on the contractility of perfused female pig bladders.

Methods

Twenty‐six pig bladders were perfused with Krebs–Ringer bicarbonate‐glucose buffer for a period up to 5 hr with the aim to preserve a viable organ, which would be responsive to contraction‐inducing agents. The intravesical pressure of the bladder as well as the intraarterial pressure of the vesical arteries were recorded before and after administration of carbachol.

Results

The perfusate pH, lactate, partial carbon dioxide tension, and the ATP content in the perfused tissue, all indicators of tissue ischemia or cell necrosis, showed a good preservation of the organ for up to 5 hr. Carbachol was able to induce contractions of the prefilled bladder with a complete draining of the bladder throughout the whole perfusion period.

Conclusions

We could demonstrate that this perfusion system was able to preserve the pig bladder in a functional condition, appropriate for the study of physiological questions. Neurourol. Urodynam. 26:1024–1029, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A multilevel method for discontinuous Galerkin approximation of three‐dimensional anisotropic elliptic problems
Authors: Kraus J. K. , Tomar S. K.
Published: July 2007

We construct optimal order multilevel preconditioners for interior‐penalty discontinuous Galerkin (DG) finite element discretizations of three‐dimensional (3D) anisotropic elliptic boundary‐value problems. In this paper, we extend the analysis of our approach, introduced earlier for 2D problems (SIAM J. Sci. Comput., accepted), to cover 3D problems. A specific assembling process is proposed, which allows us to characterize the hierarchical splitting locally. This is also the key for a local analysis of the angle between the resulting subspaces. Applying the corresponding two‐level basis transformation recursively, a sequence of algebraic problems is generated. These discrete problems can be associated with coarse versions of DG approximations (of the solution to the original variational problem) on a hierarchy of geometrically nested meshes. A new bound for the constant γ in the strengthened Cauchy–Bunyakowski–Schwarz inequality is derived. The presented numerical results support the theoretical analysis and demonstrate the potential of this approach. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Marketing of cultural institutions in French‐speaking Switzerland
Authors: Courvoisier François H. , Courvoisier Fabienne A.
Published: July 2007

Marketing in cultural institutions is a field that has rarely been studied in French‐speaking Switzerland so far.

Therefore this paper explores the way in which visitors‐clients appreciate qualitatively their contacts with cultural institutions concerned with the visual arts in comparison with the communication strategy of the curators and directors of museums.

A survey has been conducted amongst 20 museums and over 200 visitors of French‐speaking Switzerland to evaluate the way visitors perceive the marketing of cultural institutions and behave accordingly or not.

The paper concludes with recommendations to improve the knowledge of the visitors' background and expectations.

Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An analysis of reinforcement sensitivity theory and the five‐factor model
Authors: Mitchell John T. , Kimbrel Nathan A. , Hundt Natalie E. , Cobb Amanda R. , Nelson‐Gray Rosemery O. , Lootens Christopher M.
Published: July 2007

Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST) and the Five‐Factor Model (FFM) are two prominent personality accounts that have emerged from different backgrounds. Although the two accounts are applied to similar research topics, there is limited empirical work examining the correspondence between them. The current study explored the relationship between RST‐based personality traits and the FFM domains and facets in an undergraduate sample (n = 668). Regression analyses indicated that Sensitivity to Punishment (SP) was positively associated with Neuroticism and Agreeableness, and negatively associated with Extraversion, Openness, and Conscientiousness. In contrast, Sensitivity to Reward (SR) was positively associated with Extraversion and Neuroticism, and negatively associated with Agreeableness and Conscientiousness. Exploratory analyses at the facet level specified the relationship between SP, SR, and each domain. A factor analysis was also conducted to explore the higher‐order factor structure of RST and the FFM domains. Three factors emerged, which we labelled SP, Stability‐Impulsivity, and Sensation Seeking. Taken together, these findings suggest that there is substantial overlap between these two accounts of personality. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The neighborhood film/video project: Early merger was ticket to success
Authors: Leonard Jennifer
Published: July 2007

This case study of a successful merger between a media arts center and a residence program for international students explores the decision–making process that led to merger and its subsequent impact on mission, operations, and fundraising.
Trusteeship in difficult times: Settlement houses in the Great Depression
Authors: Stuart Paul H.
Published: July 2007

Settlement house leadership in the 1930s shares many characteristics with today's not‐for‐profits. The response of settlement house board members and executives to the crisis of the Great Depression suggests factors that contribute to innovation in voluntary social services organizations.
Protestants and giving: The tithes that bind?
Authors: Hudnut‐Beumler James
Published: July 2007

Protestant giving is informed by three theological traditions and by participation in contemporary culture. There are six significant elements to the “language” of Protestant giving patterns.
Evangelicals: Linking fervency of faith and generosity of giving
Authors: Willmer Wesley K.
Published: July 2007

Evangelicals represent a growing and active culture of giving. The author defines evangelicals, discusses what we know about their giving, advances five reasons why evangelicals give, and suggests five factors that will influence future giving.
An introduction to tax‐exempt financing for 501(c)(3) organizations
Authors: Horn Brenda S.
Published: July 2007

Opportunities exist for tax‐exempt organizations to borrow at lower interest rates through bond issues, but a variety of restrictions apply to such financing.
New ventures in a nonprofit environment
Authors: Maxwell Margaret M.
Published: July 2007

The author presents a ten‐step guide to developing earned income program. Nonprofit organizations, which may be new to developing products or services to sell, are shown how to deal with the risks and avoid the pitfalls.
Cause‐branding: Next step or misstep?
Authors: Riggin Don L.
Published: July 2007

The author provides an overview of the Arthritis Foundation's decision to launch Arthritis Foundation Pain Relievers, and places into perspective the appropriateness of cause‐branding initiatives for nonprofit organizations.
Balancing the mix of revenues from profits, donations, and government
Authors: Kingma Bruce R.
Published: July 2007

New evidence suggests that separate sources of revenue may be interdependent, and that nonprofit managers should carefully consider how the pursuit of revenues from one source may affect revenues from other sources.
Transitional development: Repositioning for major and planned gifts
Authors: Taylor Robert R.
Published: July 2007

While planned giving is fundamental to building a strong asset base, implementing such a strategy becomes particularly challenging for organizations that do not have a fully developed fundraising program.
The professional adviser and charitable giving
Authors: Slamar Charles
Published: July 2007

Allied professionals, especially trust and private banking officers, can play an essential role in assisting and encouraging individuals with high net worths in philanthropic giving.
Community foundations: A potential endowment‐building partner
Authors: Newman Bruce L. , Luckes David R.
Published: July 2007

Community foundations are in the business of building endowments that benefit their communities, and they could be an ideal partner in helping your agency build its own endowment.
The analysis of Neisseria meningitidis proteomes: Reference maps and their applications
Authors: Bernardini Giulia , Braconi Daniela , Santucci Annalisa
Published: July 2007

Neisseria meningitidis is an encapsulated Gram‐negative bacterium responsible for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. The availability of meningococcal genome sequences in combination with the rapid growth of proteomic techniques and other high‐throughput methods, provided new approaches to the analysis of bacterial system biology. This review considers the meningococcal reference maps so far published as a starting point aimed to elucidate bacterial physiology and pathogenicity, paying particular attention to proteins with potential vaccine and diagnostic applications.
New tools and approaches to expand global process safety capabilities
Authors: Berger Scott , Person Karen
Published: July 2007

From 1985 to 2000, large western chemical and petroleum companies, collaborating through the Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS), developed a sophisticated level of process safety knowledge and shared this knowledge in the western world through conferences and English‐language books. This approach proved satisfactory to address the process safety needs of a large proportion of global industry existing at the time. However, since 2000, the industry has been expanding significantly in developing regions of the world. Communications in these new regions are complicated by language, time zone differences, and culture.

Additionally, as reported by the US Chemical Safety Board, many smaller companies, even in the west, are often unaware of the considerable resources that have been developed. Finally, new engineers entering the workplace around the world are generally unable to travel, to attend courses or technical sessions. And because of the Internet resources available to them during their formative years, they are less enthused about plowing through hardcover books to retrieve information.

It is clear that traditional books, courses, and technical sessions do not always successfully reach all of these groups. CCPS has recognized that the communication paradigm must be changed and expanded. This article addresses what CCPS is doing to (a) close physical and language gaps, through on‐site participation and translation of key materials, and (b) use exciting new Internet tools to facilitate interactions across distances that meet the needs of new engineers. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2007
Relation between structure, morphology and optical properties of indium sulphide thin films prepared by different vacuum methods
Authors: Guillén C.
Published: July 2007

Indium sulphide thin films were synthesized following two different vacuum physical processes, modulated flux deposition and sequential evaporation, with thicknesses ranging between 40 and 250 nm, at temperatures as low as 200 °C. The samples were characterized using X‐ray diffraction, spectrophotometry and atomic force microscopy. All films crystallized in the tetragonal β‐In2S3 structure, showing small crystallite size and compressive lattice distortion for the thinnest layers, which progress towards larger crystallites and lattice extension when the thickness increases. Such evolution is found to be different for samples prepared by direct or sequential processes. Relations between lattice stress, surface roughness and band gap energy values were analysed for the different layers. It is established that band gap widening is related to compressive strain and low roughness conditions, which are better achieved by modulated flux deposition. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Covariance component models for multivariate binary traits in family data analysis
Authors: Yip Benjamin H. , Björk Camilla , Lichtenstein Paul , Hultman Christina M. , Pawitan Yudi
Published: July 2007

For family studies, there is now an established analytical framework for binary‐trait outcomes within the generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs). However, the corresponding analysis of multivariate binary‐trait (MBT) outcomes is still limited. Certain diseases, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, have similarities in epidemiological features, risk factor patterns and intermediate phenotypes. To have a better etiological understanding, it is important to investigate the common genetic and environmental factors driving the comorbidity of the diseases. In this paper, we develop a suitable GLMM for MBT outcomes from extended families, such as nuclear, paternal‐ and maternal‐halfsib families. We motivate our problem with real questions from psychiatric epidemiology and demonstrate how different substantive issues of comorbidity between two diseases can be put into the analytical framework. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.