Laplace-normal mixtures fitted to wind shear data

A mixture model with Laplace and normal components is fitted to wind shear data available in grouped form. A set of equations is presented for iteratively estimating the parameters of the model using an application of the EM algorithm. Twenty-four sets of data are examined with this technique, and the model is found to give a good fit to the data. Some hypotheses about the parameters in the model are discussed in light of the estimates obtained.     

The development and construct validation of a consumer satisfaction questionnaire for psychiatric inpatients.

A consumer satisfaction scale was developed for psychiatric inpatients. The scale was administered to a state-wide sample of (n = 366) patients discharged from acute psychiatric units throughout Missouri. The scale was factor analyzed and given to another sample of (n = 390) discharges. Three out of five factors that were found in the first sample were replicated in a factor analysis of data from the second sample. Acceptable coefficient alphas were obtained on all three factors, demonstrating internal reliability. The three factors were labeled Treatment Effectiveness, Trust of Staff, and Hospital Environment. Comparable levels of satisfaction with prior studies were found on the first general satisfaction factor of Treatment Effectiveness. Subjects discriminated areas of satisfaction by expressing higher levels of dissatisfaction on the factors of Trust of Staff and Hospital Environment.     

早期西夏语文学研究概述

1931年苏联杰出的西夏学者Н.А.聂历山首次对国际西夏学研究的早期历史作了简要回顾,全面介绍了19世纪末20世纪初各国西夏学研究的重要成果,对西夏文字的创制、构成、发音、推广及其重要辞书、文献,尤其对西夏文释读作出重大贡献的《掌中珠》都作了生动有趣的描述。对我们了解西夏研究历史,总结前辈学人的经验教训,借鉴和完善方法理论,促进西夏研究的繁荣有着重要意义。现据《西夏语文学》译出,希望能为学界提供一些有价值的线索。     

Outcome Expectancies and Risk Behaviors in Maltreated Adolescents

This study examined positive and negative outcome expectancies for risk behaviors, and their association with engagement in risk behaviors, in a sample of 149 maltreated adolescents. “Outcome Expectancies” are evaluative social cognitions about what will occur as a consequence of one's actions. Risk behaviors and outcome expectancies for substance use, sexual behavior, and delinquency were assessed. In all regression models, positive expectancies were significantly related to risk behaviors while negative expectancies, with one exception, were not significantly related. In three of four regression models, significant interactions were found between positive and negative expectancies in predicting risk behaviors. The nature of the interaction differed by type of risk behavior. Beyond demonstrating associations between outcome expectancies and risk behaviors in a maltreated sample, this paper contributes to the study of social information processing by demonstrating significant interactions between positive and negative expectancies.     

A tale of two regions: Novgorod and Pskov as models of symbolic development

Russian regions display remarkably different patterns of economic and political development. These differences come into sharp focus when comparing two nearly identical northwestern regions, Novgorod and Pskov. Novgorod's success and Pskov's failure are attributed to the local elite's creative use of key cultural symbols and myths to support regional development. Contrasting two popular approaches to culture and development—“cultural adjustment” and “cultural congruence”—the author argues that the cultural congruence model, adopted by Novgorod, dramatically improves the chances for rapid social and economic transformation.     

Income, Environmental Disamenity, and Toxic Releases

The literature argues that income growth leads to increased demand for environmental quality and thus reduction in pollution. Using a utility theoretic model, we hypothesize that the income–pollution relationship should depend on the level of disamenity of the pollutant. We proxy for disamenity using the toxicity of releases. For counties in the United States, the functional relationship between income and releases depends on the level of disamenity: the form is more concave for more toxic releases. We find that environmental improvements occur at lower levels of per capita income for more toxic pollutants.