bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A latent class typology of young women smokers
Authors: Rose Jennifer S. , Chassin Laurie , Presson Clark , Sherman Steven J. , Stein Michael D. , Col Nananda 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACTAims  Despite aggressive anti‐smoking campaigns, smoking rates are increasing among young women, suggesting the need for new approaches to reach this population. Segmenting audiences can facilitate targeting interventions to specific populations, based on association of smoking behaviors with other health behaviors and psychological and social antecedents. Using latent class analysis, we sought to profile patterns of behavioral, attitudinal and cognitive variables related to tobacco use among young women.Design  This study is part of an ongoing Midwestern longitudinal self‐report survey of the natural history of cigarette smoking.Participants  Participants were 18–25‐year‐old women smokers (n = 443).Measurements  Variables included a comprehensive range of demographic characteristics, smoking‐related variables and general attitudinal variables.Findings  Three distinct classes emerged with the following characteristics: (1) working women who tended to smoke daily but reported high levels of positive affect and life satisfaction (n = 212); (2) light‐smoking college students who exercised regularly, began smoking after high school and quit successfully at follow‐up 5 years later (n = 86); and (3) heavy smokers who were more likely to have children, report high levels of negative affect and smoke for addictive reasons, for stimulation and to control affect (n = 145). Differences in smoking cessation at a 5‐year follow‐up were significant across the classes (18.1%, 34.4% and 13.0% had quit for at least 6 months, respectively).Conclusions  The psychosocial and behavioral profiles of these classes can potentially be used to tailor smoking interventions more effectively within this population.
Do coping skills mediate the relationship between cognitive–behavioral therapy and reductions in gambling in pathological gamblers?
Authors: Petry Nancy M. , Litt Mark D. , Kadden Ronald , Ledgerwood David M. 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACTAims  Cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) is useful for treating substance abusers, and recent data suggest it is also efficacious for pathological gamblers. CBT is purported to exert its beneficial effects by altering coping skills, but data supporting coping changes as the mechanism of action are mixed. This study examined whether coping skills acquisition mediated the effects of CBT on decreasing gambling in pathological gamblers.Design  Participants were assigned randomly to CBT plus referral to Gamblers Anonymous (GA) or to GA referral alone.Setting  Out‐patient clinic.Participants  A total of 127 pathological gamblers.Measurements  Participants completed the Coping Strategies Scale (CSS) before treatment and 2 months later; indices of gambling behavior and problems were administered pretreatment and at months 2 and 12.Findings  Overall, CSS scores increased for participants in both conditions, but those receiving CBT evidenced larger increases than those in the GA condition (P < 0.05), and they also reduced gambling more substantially between pretreatment and month 2. Changes in CSS scores mediated the relationship between treatment assignment and gambling outcomes from pretreatment to month 2, but little evidence of mediation occurred for the long‐term follow‐ups.Conclusions  CBT's beneficial effects in decreasing gambling may be related partly to changes in coping responses, and improvements in coping are associated with long‐term changes in gambling. However, relationships between coping skills and gambling behavior are fairly strong, regardless of treatment received.
Imaging functional brain connectivity patterns from high‐resolution EEG and fMRI via graph theory
Authors: Astolfi L. , De Vico Fallani F. , Cincotti F. , Mattia D. , Marciani M. G. , Bufalari S. , Salinari S. , Colosimo A. , Ding L. , Edgar J. C. , Heller W. , Miller G. A. , He B. , Babiloni F. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractWe describe a set of computational tools able to estimate cortical activity and connectivity from high‐resolution EEG and fMRI recordings in humans. These methods comprise the estimation of cortical activity using realistic geometry head volume conductor models and distributed cortical source models, followed by the evaluation of cortical connectivity between regions of interest coincident with the Brodmann areas via the use of Partial Directed Coherence. Connectivity patterns estimated on the cortical surface in different frequency bands are then imaged and interpreted with measures based on graph theory. These computational tools were applied on a set of EEG and fMRI data from a Stroop task to demonstrate the potential of the proposed approach. The present findings suggest that the methodology is able to identify differences in functional connectivity patterns elicited by different experimental tasks or conditions.
Identification ofAeromonas veroniiGenes Required for Colonization of the Medicinal Leech,Hirudo verbana
Authors: Silver Adam C. , Rabinowitz Natasha M. , Küffer Stefan , Graf Joerg 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACTMost digestive tracts contain a complex consortium of beneficial microorganisms, making it challenging to tease apart the molecular interactions between symbiont and host. The digestive tract ofHirudo verbana, the medicinal leech, is an ideal model system because it harbors a simple microbial community in the crop, comprising the genetically amenableAeromonas veroniiand aRikenella-like bacterium. Signature-tagged mutagenesis (STM) was used to identify genes required for digestive tract colonization. Of 3,850 transposon (Tn) mutants screened, 46 were identified as colonization mutants. Previously we determined that the complement system of the ingested blood remained active inside the crop and prevented serum-sensitive mutants from colonizing. The identification of 26 serum-sensitive mutants indicated a successful screen. The remaining 20 serum-resistant mutants are described in this study and revealed new insights into symbiont-host interactions. An in vivo competition assay compared the colonization levels of the mutants to that of a wild-type competitor. Attenuated colonization mutants were grouped into five classes: surface modification, regulatory, nutritional, host interaction, and unknown function. One STM mutant, JG736, with a Tn insertion inlpp, encoding Braun's lipoprotein, was characterized in detail. This mutant had a >25,000-fold colonization defect relative to colonization by the wild-type strain at 72 h and, in vitro, an increased sensitivity to sodium dodecyl sulfate, suggesting the presence of an additional antimicrobial property in the crop. The classes of genes identified in this study are consistent with findings from previous STM studies involving pathogenic bacteria, suggesting parallel molecular requirements for beneficial and pathogenic host colonization.
Multicollinearity in regression: Review and examples
Authors: Askin Ronald G. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractWhen building regression models for forecasting, analysts often encounter the problem of multicollinearity or illconditioning in their data sets. In such cases, large variances and covariances can make subset selection and parameter estimation difficult to impossible. In this paper, we suggest several approaches for extending estimation results to forecasting and review theoretical results useful for forecasting with multicollinearity. Several examples are provided.
An evaluation of bayesian forecasting
Authors: Fildes Robert 
Published: July 2007

Abstract‘Bayesian forecasting’ is a time series method of forecasting which (in the United Kingdom) has become synonymous with the state space formulation of Harrison and Stevens (1976). The approach is distinct from other time series methods in that it envisages changes in model structure. A disjoint class of models is chosen to encompass the changes. Each data point is retrospectively evaluated (using Bayes theorem) to judge which of the models held. Forecasts are then derived conditional on an assumed model holding true. The final forecasts are weighted sums of these conditional forecasts.Few empirical evaluations have been carried out. This paper reports a large scale comparison of time series forecasting methods including the Bayesian. The approach is two fold: a simulation study to examine parameter sensitivity and an empirical study which contrasts Bayesian with other time series methods.
Applications of time‐series analysis in accounting: A review
Authors: Bao D.‐H. , Lewis M. T. , Lin W. T. , Manegold J. G. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis paper reviews research that makes use of one of the most popular forecasting methods applied in accounting: time‐series analysis using the Box‐Jenkins methodology. It organizes the research in the area, surveys recent applications of time‐series analysis in accounting, and discusses the potential for the methodology in addressing future research issues. The emphasis is on those aspects of the accounting system that possibly cause difficulties in applying time‐series methods in accounting.
Intergovernmental finance and local taxation in developing countries: Some basic considerations for reformers
Authors: Bird Richard M. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractDecentralization is an increasingly fashionable theme in the development literature. This paper attempts to distil from experience in a number of countries some basic considerations that should be taken into account by would‐be decentralizers with respect to intergovernmental fiscal relations and local taxation. After a brief review of the nature of the problem and the economic case for decentralization, four basic principles of reform—transparency, stability, flexibility, and incrementalism—are put forward as useful guidelines to the restructuring of governmental finances and functions that seem needed in many developing countries.
Institutional adjustment in Terrafrie: Typical problems of a real African country
Authors: Makharita Ragaa , Brunet Jacques 
Published: July 2007

AbstractTerrafrie, a typical African country, suffers from both a balance of payments deficit and a budget deficit. Its economy is retrogressing in real terms because of a number of institutional weaknesses revealed by a recent study commission, including personnel mismanagement, administrative disorganization, slow and confusing decision‐making, lack of monitoring, and legal disarray. These institutional weaknesses are likely to undermine the current Economic and Financial Recovery Programme supported by international lenders.
Salient features of the 1988 civil service reforms in Nigeria
Authors: Dlakwa Haruna Dantaro 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe main provisions of the 1988 civil service reform in Nigeria are discussed, including structural reorganization, professionalization and the enforcement of public accountability. As of the time of the reform, the following defects were associated with the civil service: undue importance accorded the generalists at the expense of the professionals; profligacy among public officers; nonchalant attitude among civil servants to their duties; and corruption. Measures taken to rectify these defects by the reform include: the adoption of a uniform structure for the civil service nationwide; the harmonization of power with responsibility; the streamlining of the span of control of officers to not more than eight units; the expansion of the powers of internal audit units complemented by an audit alarm system; the mandating of chief executives to submit progress reports on their ministry to the president; and the rationalization of promotion criteria for public officers. These provisions are little more than the rehashing of past legislations, which failed to achieve positive results, not because they were faulty in precept but because they were sacrificed to sloppy implementation. Therefore, the 1988 reform may suffer from the same fate because it was simply grafted onto the corrupt system that caused the failure of past reforms before it.
Credit and conscientization: Effects of different development approaches in Bangladesh
Authors: Streefland Pieter H. , Ahmed Hasina , Nafisa Marium , Barman Dalem Ch. , Arefeen H. K. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis article provides a comparative description and analysis of medium‐term effects of two development approaches geared towards poverty alleviation in Bangladesh. One approach, which was studied in a programme of the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee, emphasizes a combination of group formation, awareness building, saving and selective confrontation with the rural elite. The other approach emphasizes provision of credit to the rural poor; it was studied in an area where the Grameen Bank has been implementing its programme since an early stage. The study on which the article is based included a mixture of qualitative and quantitative research methods. It is a significant contribution to the development of a study design and methodology for evaluative research focusing on gauging the effects of interventions in settings characterized by a lack of baseline data.
China's administrative reforms for a market economy
Authors: Burns John P. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractDuring the 1980s and early 1990s, China's centrally planned economy has been replaced by one that relies largely on market forces. Leaders have carried out a programme of administrative reforms to tailor the state to the market economy. These reforms have included: decentralization, organizational restructuring and civil service reform. A number of factors have undermined the success of the reforms. They include: lack of political support, China's relatively weak administrative capacity, internal bureaucratic opposition and mixed support from the general public. However, further economic development is likely to improve the prospects of administrative reform in China.
Cuba's economic and management policy response to the changing global environment
Authors: Brandwayn Susan 
Published: July 2007

AbstractAmongst the various countries in transition, Cuba is pursuing a path of adjustment in which it is striving to maintain the basic social achievements of its revolution. The article describes, first, Cuba's development in the period from 1960 to the mid 1980's; second, the impact of the changing international situation thereafter on the Cuban economy; and third, the way in which Cuba has responded to the latter, specifically its efforts to promote diversified foreign trade and investment and to create a new management culture supportive of the latter.Against this background, an assessment is made of ongoing institutional reforms in the exporting sector of Cuba's state enterprises and planning system. US embargo notwithstanding, Cuba is receiving significant international support for the latter, especially from the UN system.The article finally assesses the prospects for the Cuban economy, in a situation of increasing difficulty. Conclusions range over a number of issues that arise from Cuba's strategy for survival and renewed growth: (i) the emerging contradictions within its overall strategy, particularly the split between the centrally‐planned and controlled domestic market and the much freer exporting and foreign exchange earning sectors; (ii) the ability of the population to tolerate the adjustment costs and deprivations in the short term; (iii) international competition with a number of other countries for foreign investment, particularly Pharmaceuticals; (iv) some of the strategic risks inherent in the selective and gradualist approach of Cuba and its ability to turn around the economy in time to enable it to survive; (v) the ability of the overall system to move quickly forward from basic management training to structural change in what might be the enabling policy and institutional environment.In confronting these challenges, the article also stresses (i) the adaptability of Cuban managers who have shown themselves highly retrainable to play new roles in the global economy; (ii) the considerable resource endowments of Cuba, including abundant human capital and investment in scientific and technological research and development, its location advantages and its stability and determination.
Cultural relativism, ‘good’ governance and sustainable human development
Authors: Blunt Peter 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe vacuum left by the collapse of colonial empires has been filled by new forms of cultural and ideological imperialism conceived largely in the West. The new imperialism is evident in such notions as sustainable human development (SHD) and ‘good’ governance, which in many ways are prescribed for poor countries by rich countries. It is suggested that there is no one best way to ‘good’ governance or SHD and that, while elements of a universal best practice may be found, considerable room should be left for local variations.
Good government and sustainable anti‐corruption strategies: A role for independent anti‐corruption agencies?
Authors: Doig Alan 
Published: July 2007

AbstractAid donors are increasingly seeking to link assistance to sustainable reform, including the provision of a responsible and responsive political and legal framework, the improvement of recipient countries' social, health and educational prospects, and the promotion of economic development and liberalization. Much attention is given to the first of these because of the size and cost to the state and the perceived constraints it exercises on the longer‐term changes to the economy and society; in general terms, good government is an essential precondition for good governance and economic development. Increasingly donors have focused on corruption, both as a core obstacle to the encouragement of good government, and on the steps taken to dealing with it as evidence of commitment and the will of recipient countries to their introduction. While the types of activity associated with corruption are readily identifiable, as are the means to attempt to deal with it, it is usually much more difficult to determine effective implementation, particularly with limited resources at a time when longer‐term political and economic reforms are also being promoted. It is therefore especially important that, in relation to corruption and good government, a practicable, effective and sustainable means is available to deal with corruption from preventative, investigative and reform perspectives.
Quantum Field Theory Approach to the Pion‐Two‐Nucleon Interaction Problem
Authors: Kopaleishvili T. I. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractRecent development in the quantum field theory approach to a unified description of the pion‐deuteron and nucleon‐nucleon interaction processes is reviewed. The physical ground and the structure of the equations for such processes derived in the last few years in the literature are discussed. The non‐linear character of the equations under consideration is pointed out and the iteration procedure for their solution is suggested to avoid the non‐linearity.
Evaluation of TiW + Al/Cu electromigration performance
Authors: Armstrong N. P. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractAl/4 per cent Cu tracks with a TiW underlayer have been life‐tested for electromigration between 180° and 235°C, and activation energy for EM in the tracks has been obtained. Comparison with other life‐test data has shown that the previous omission of a vacuum break between TiW and Al/Cu depositions resulted in 10x improvement int50. However, the present films remain greatly superior to Al/Cu alone: the improved slope implies a 10x increase int0.1%—an appropriate benchmark for circuit failure. Secondary ion mass spectrometry and X‐TEM have been used to investigate reasons for the large observed effect of vacuum break on EM life. Results lead to the suggested use of Al/Cu/Ti alloys in future.
Evaluation of E2PROM data retention by field acceleration
Authors: Lanzoni M. , Menozzi R. , Riva C. , Olivo P. , Riccò B. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis work presents an improved theoretical analysis of the physical mechanisms leading to charge loss from the floating gate of electrically erasable PROMs (E2PROMs). The analysis is applied to a simplified model of a FLOTOX cell in order to evaluate data retention characteristics using the applied field as an accelerating factor. A set of experimental results (obtained on virgin as well as on aged cells) is presented and degradation of data retention due to cell aging is examined.
Proportional hazards modelling versus two‐sample tests: A case study
Authors: Bohoris G. A. , Leitao A. L. F. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to illustrate primarily the suitability and secondly the ability of both PHM and ‘two‐sample’ tests in answering problems in the reliability field. The findings stress the fact that ‘two‐sample’ tests should be preferred for comparison purposes and PHM for modelling the behaviour of the equipment in the presence of various factors.
ESD in integrated circuits
Authors: Amerasekera Ajith , Verwey Jan 
Published: July 2007

AbstractA review of the effects of electrostatic discharge (ESD) on semiconductor integrated circuits is presented. The principles of the human body model (HBM), the machine model (MM) and the charged device model (CDM) test methods are outlined, and their relative merits and drawbacks are discussed. Techniques, such as the transmission line pulse method, which may be used to characterise ESD protection circuit elements are also presented. The concept of ESD protection circuit designs and some typical ESD protection circuit elements are presented. The main design and process parameters are identified, and the main categories of damage under ESD conditions are shown. Models of the behaviour of the protection circuit elements under high current conditions are presented, and the boundary conditions for damage are discussed. The issues that will influence ESD protection circuit behaviour in the future are discussed.
Combined hardware and software aspects of reliability
Authors: Keene Samuel , Lane Chris 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis paper presents the similarities and differences between hardware, software and system reliability. Relative contributions to system failures are shown for software and hardware and failure and recovery propensities are also discussed. Reliability, availability and maintainability (RAM) concepts have been broadly developed for software reliability than hardware reliability. Extending these software concepts to hardware and system reliability helps in examining the reliability of complex systems.The paper concludes with assurance techniques for defending against faults. Most of the techniques discussed originate in software reliability but apply to all aspects of a system. Also, the effects of redundancy on overall system availability are shown.
A computer‐controlled environmental test system for high pin‐count integrated circuit packages
Authors: Barrett John , Donavan John Ó , Hayes Thomas , Mathúna Seán C.Ó 
Published: July 2007

AbstractAn automated environmental stress testing system, designed and assembled for testing of high pin‐count integrated circuit packages and surface mount solder joint reliability is described. Details are given of the software and hardware used in the control of the environment chambers used, in monitoring of test specimen reliability parameters and in control and monitoring of special purpose integrated circuits for testing of IC package reliability. In addition, an automatic system for monitoring of the resistance of fine pitch surface mount solder joints and for detection and recording of thermally induced intermittent open circuits in these joints is described.