Air University

Self-construal is thought to mediate and explain the effects of culture on a wide variety of outcome variables. A meta-analysis of published cross-cultural self-construal research is reported in this article, and the results across studies suggests that the evidence for the predicted cultural differences is weak, inconsistent, or nonexistent. The results of 3 priming experiments (N = 121, N = 99, and N = 361) suggest that (a) priming does not account for the inconsistent results observed in the meta-analysis, (b) that scores on a self-construal scale appear to be measuring trait-like constructs that are not sensitive to priming, and (c) that measures of self-construals lack convergent validity. The results of several measurement studies (N = 121, 223, 230, 323, 214, 206, 126, 204, 148, 141, and 150) were inconsistent with the a priori two-factor measurement model in every case. Self-construal scales were found to be radically multidimensional and highly unstable within and across cultures. These results lead us to conclude that catastrophic validity problems exist in research involving the use of self-construal scales in cross-cultural research.

Green plants grown in a closed, illuminated system liberate small quantities of carbon monoxide. Similarly, finely divided powder and chlorophyll extracts of green plants, when illuminated in an environment of oxygen and water, will yield small quantities of carbon monoxide as well as certain aldehydes. The component of the light spectrum which is absorbed in photosynthesis (480 to 680 mmicro) was found to be responsible for the CO and aldehyde phenomena.

In the debate between offensive and defensive realism, a central issue is whether major powers can overcome the uncertainty that drives the security dilemma. Whereas offensive realists maintain that states cannot know others' motives and intentions, defensive realists argue that states can reveal their preferences by altering their military posture. Defensive realists have, how- ever, presented an incomplete account of the constraints and opportunities associated with military reassurance. To demonstrate its motives, a security- seeking state must take actions that will often increase its vulnerability to potential aggressors. Although offense-defense variables have been invoked to address the constraint of vulnerability, the conditions usually considered most favorable for reassurance—differentiation between offense and defense and an advantage for the latter—make it no easier to achieve. A defensive advantage makes reassurance difficult by encouraging all states to adopt defensive capa- bilities and by requiring large concessions to reveal benign motives. Only when offense and defense are differentiated and the balance between them is neutral can states reveal their motives without also endangering their security. These arguments are illustrated with three empirical examples: the Anglo- German naval race, Nikita Khrushchev's troop cuts, and Mikhail Gorbachev's arms limitation and arms control policies.

This report describes the mechanism of origin and the quantity of estrogen produced in a prepubertal boy who developed severe feminization at 8 yr of age as the result of a heretofore undescribed metabolic abnormality. The clinical findings were gynecomastia and accelerated linear growth and bone maturation. At the time feminization developed, there were no signs of growth or development of the otherwise normal prepubertal male external genitalia or any increase of muscle mass that normally accompanies male puberty. The hyperestrogenism was found to be the consequence of massive extraglandular conversion of plasma androstenedione to estrone. During a 6-mo period of study, the plasma production rate of androstenedione ranged from 1.2 to 1.6 mg/day. More than 55% of plasma androstenedione was metabolized by aromatization to estrone which, in turn, was extensively sulfurylated in the tissue sites of aromatization before its entry into the blood. Thus, estrone sulfate was the final product in the aromatizing sites, and the plasma production rate of estrone sulfate derived from plasma androstenedione was 782 mug/24 h. The extent of extraglandular conversion of plasma androstenedione to estrone measured in this boy was 50 times that observed in two normal prepubertal boys. Moreover, 94% of the extraglandular aromatization occurred in extrahepatic sites. The metabolic clearance rate of plasma androstenedione, 2,380 liters/day per m(2), was markedly increased in this boy. Approximately 1,500 liters of plasma androstenedione clearance was accounted for by extrahepatic, extraglandular aromatization. The fractional conversion of testosterone to estradiol, 0.16, was 50 times greater in this boy than that observed in normal young adult men. The total extent of aromatization of plasma prehormones was even greater in this boy inasmuch as evidence was obtained that aromatization of 16-hydroxysteroids, e.g. 16alpha-hydroxy androstenedione and 16alpha-hydroxy dehydroisoandrosterone (sulfate), resulted in estriol formation independent of estrone formation. Thus, extensive extrahepatic, extraglandular aromatization resulted in advanced feminization in this prepubertal boy by a previously undescribed metabolic abnormality.

This paper lists 510 species of plants belonging to 93 families that occur within the 60km2 Wamba forest, a bonobo (Pan paniscus) study site since 1974. Most plant specimens were collected by ad libitum basis, but bonobo food species were collected as often as possible. Regarding food plants for bonobos, the part eaten is listed. The list incompletely represents floral diversity at Wamba, but is useful ecological background for comparisons of food plants at Wamba and those at other sites. Some differences in feeding habits between bonobos at Wamba and Lomako were detected by using this list. Data on trees with a diameter of breast height (DBH) of 5cm or more, collected systematically along line transects of 4m width and 4150m total length, are also presented. Bonobo food trees constituted the majority of trees recorded in each of the major 3 forest types; primary, secondary and swamp forest, in terms of both total basal area and density of stems. This and additional information on the abundance of terrestrial herbaceous vegetation (THV) and the Apocynaceae vines, suggest that food resources are rich and stable, and sustain the large party sizes ofbonobos at Wamba.

The torus grating is defined as a calotte of a circular torus bearing a grating ruling on its concave side. In contrast to the spherical grating, the torus grating is capable of eliminating astigmatism, in general, for two points in the spectrum. These two stigmatic points can be adjusted to any desired wave-length within a wide range of the spectrum by choosing suitable values for the angles of incidence and diffraction. In the rest of the spectrum produced by a torus grating, astigmatism is considerably smaller than that prevailing in spectra of spherical gratings. Moreover, astigmatism is negligible in the proximity of the two stigmatic points, giving rise to “quasi-stigmatic” ranges in the torus grating spectrum. The extension of these quasi-stigmatic ranges depends on the size of tolerable astigmatism. If based upon an astigmatism equal to the diffraction width of the spectral images, a quasi-stigmatic range can be wider than 1000A. With light sources of small size a considerable gain in spectral intensity results from the lack of astigmatism. The theory of the torus grating which has been attempted in this paper further demonstrates that coma, aberration, and curvature of spectral lines in the torus grating spectrum are generally smaller than the same image imperfections in the spectrum of the spherical grating.

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Abstract Rationale Little is known regarding the impact of ambient ultrafine particles (UFPs; <0.1 μm) on childhood asthma development. Objectives To examine the association between prenatal and early postnatal life exposure to UFPs and development of childhood asthma. Methods A total of 160,641 singleton live births occurring in the City of Toronto, Canada between April 1, 2006, and March 31, 2012, were identified from a birth registry. Associations between exposure to ambient air pollutants and childhood asthma incidence (up to age 6) were estimated using random effects Cox proportional hazards models, adjusting for personal- and neighborhood-level covariates. We investigated both single-pollutant and multipollutant models accounting for coexposures to particulate matter ≤2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) and NO2. Measurements and Main Results We identified 27,062 children with incident asthma diagnosis during the follow-up. In adjusted models, second-trimester exposure to UFPs (hazard ratio per interquartile range increase, 1.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–1.12) was associated with asthma incidence. In models additionally adjusted for PM2.5 and nitrogen dioxide, UFPs exposure during the second trimester of pregnancy remained positively associated with childhood asthma incidence (hazard ratio per interquartile range increase, 1.05; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–1.09). Conclusions This is the first study to evaluate the association between perinatal exposure to UFPs and the incidence of childhood asthma. Exposure to UFPs during a critical period of lung development was linked to the onset of asthma in children, independent of PM2.5 and NO2.

Measuring wet deposition of organic carbon (OC) and black carbon (BC) is crucial for the complete understanding of the global circulation, lifetime, and radiative forcing of these aerosols. There is currently no accepted standard analytical method for measuring OC and BC concentration in precipitation. Different analytical methods have been employed for this purpose, but their feasibility has yet to be assessed. This manuscript evaluates the use of thermal-optical analysis (TOA), single-particle soot photometry (SP2), and ultraviolet–visible (UV/VIS) spectrophotometry for measuring BC in precipitation. In addition, total organic carbon (TOC) analysis was evaluated for the measurement of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in precipitation. Potential interferences and sources of bias were assessed for each method. Precipitation samples and reference materials containing carbon particles generated from wood combustion and a natural gas diffusion flame were used in this study. The UV/VIS spectrophotometer, despite showing linearity with BC concentration, had inadequate sensitivity (±18 μg/L) to measure the low concentrations expected in precipitation. The SP2 analysis was adequate to measure refractory BC in precipitation in terms of precision and detection limit; however, systematic loss was estimated to be 34% (±3%). Sample filtration followed by TOA was inefficient for measuring particulate carbon in rainwater, as the quartz fiber filter captured less than 38% of the BC mass. Filtration was improved by adding salts and acids into the water samples, and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, (NH4)H2PO4, was determined to be the best additive by increasing the collection efficiency of quartz fiber filters up to 95% (±5%). The TOC analyzer proved to be precise in the expected concentration range (200–5000 μg-C/L) for measuring DOC and total carbon (TC), including particulate OC and 94% (±2%) of the refractory BC in solution. Copyright 2014 American Association for Aerosol Research

Deterrence and compellence couple demands for inaction and action, respectively, to a threat of sanctions. Conventional wisdom holds that deterrence requires less coercive effort than compellence, yet expected utility theory contradicts this claim. Only if exogenous factors affect these situations in a systematic and asymmetrical manner will the claim hold within expected utility theory. Prospect theory provides a systematic and endogenous account for this claim. Experimental findings suggest the degree of effort required to obtain compliance in comparable deterrence and compellence situations. Deterrence is “easier” than compellence, but this relationship is variable. Deterrence requires less effort than expected, and the relative effort it requires decreases substantially as the stakes demanded and costs threatened grow. Compellence requires more effort than expected, and the relative effort it requires decreases slightly as the stakes demanded and costs threatened grow.

A novel, highly flexible and electrically resistive-type strain sensor with a special three-dimensional conductive network was 3D printed using a composite of conductive graphene pellets and flexible thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) pellets.

Recently a number of liberal political theorists, including Rawls and Walzer, have argued for a ‘supreme emergency exemption’ from the traditional just war principle of discrimination which absolutely prohibits direct attacks against innocent civilians, claiming that a political community threatened with destruction may deliberately target innocents in order to save itself. I argue that this ‘supreme emergency exemption’ implies that individuals too may kill innocents in supreme emergencies. This is a significant theoretical cost. While it will not constitute a decisive refutation of all arguments for a supreme emergency exemption, my hope is that many will see this cost of endorsing the exemption as unacceptable.

Characean cells have contributed significantly to various areas of plant cell biology such as cell motility and membrane transport. Since characean cells are very large, various kinds of operations can easily be applied to them. Development of techniques of intracellular perfusion and permeabilization of plasma membrane has facilitated studies on functions of the plasma membrane and the vacuolar membrane (or tonoplast) which is specific to plant cells. The present article is aimed at reviewing the contribution of characean cells to the study of electrophysiological characteristics of plant membranes. Our attention was mainly focused on experiments using plasma membrane-permeabilized cells and intracellularly perfused cells.

National security strategy is a vast subject involving a daunting array of interrelated subelements woven in intricate, sometimes vague, and ever-changing patterns. Its processes are often irregular and confusing and are always based on difficult decisions laden with serious risks. In short, it is a subject understood by few and confusing to most. It is, at the same time, a subject of overwhelming importance to the fate of the United States and civilization itself. Col Dennis M. Drew and Dr Donald M. Snow have done a considerable service by drawing together many of the diverse threads of national security strategy into a coherent whole. They consider political and military strategy elements as part of a larger decisionmaking process influenced by economic, technological, cultural, and historical factors. I know of no other recent volume that addresses the entire national security milieu in such a logical manner and yet also manages to address current concerns so thoroughly. It is equally remarkable that they have addressed so many contentious problems in such an evenhanded manner. Although the title suggests that this is an introductory volume-and it is-I am convinced that experienced practitioners in the field of national security strategy would benefit greatly from a close examination of this excellent book.

The correlation of blood lactate production in man with respiratory and circulatory adaptations resulting from physical exercise during an established work capacity test was studied. From physiologic criteria observed, an attempt was made to prepare a general classification of work intensity. Three distinctly different increments of lactic acid accumulation in the blood during gradually increased work indicates the following classification: I, light work: pulse rate not exceeding 120 beats per minute, no lactic acid increase significantly above the resting level; II, heavy work: pulse rate between 120 and 160 beats per minute, a lactic acid increase from approximately 20 to 40 mg %; III, severe work: pulse rate above 160 beats per minute, a lactic acid increase to 100 mg % or more. Submitted on May 28, 1956

Abstract — The demand for fast transfer of large volumes of data, and the deployment of the network infrastructures is ever increasing. However, the dominant transport protocol of today, TCP, does not meet this demand because it favors reliability over timeliness and fails to fully utilize the network capacity due to limitations of its conservative congestion control algorithm. The slow response of TCP in fast long distance networks leaves sizeable unused bandwidth in such networks. A large variety of TCP variants have been proposed to improve the connection’s throughput by adopting more aggressive congestion control algorithms. Some of the flavors of TCP congestion control are loss-based, high-speed TCP congestion control algorithms that uses packet losses as an indication of congestion; delay-based TCP congestion control that emphasizes packet delay rather than packet loss as a signal to determine the rate at which to send packets. Some efforts combine the features of loss-based and delay-based algorithms to achieve fair bandwidth allocation and fairness among flows. A comparative analysis between different flavors of TCP congestion control namely Standard TCP congestion control (TCP Reno), loss-based TCP congestion control (HighSpeed TCP, Scalable TCP, CUBIC TCP), delay-based TCP congestion control (TCP Vegas) and mixed loss-delay based TCP congestion control (Compound TCP) is presented here in terns of congestion window verses elapsed time after the connection is established.

This article examines the merits of defining a class of offensive destructive cyber weapons as weapons of mass destruction (WMD). It analyzes the growing danger of destructive cyber weapons in the future joint operating environment and the devastating effects they may have in the physical domain. Further, it outlines evidence that specifically coded, offensive destructive cyber weapons would meet the spirit and intent of the three academic conditions for categorization as WMD. It argues the merits of categorizing a class of destructive cyber weapons as WMD, and addresses important factors required to examine advantages afforded to policy makers. Towards this end, the paper offers two recommendations for consideration to account for the value in designating a class of destructive cyber weapons as WMD. The recommendations include a proposed cyber deterrence theory of “Attributed Response Assured,” and outline how this theory could support a U.S. cyber policy of strategic ambiguity. Further, it recommends defining acceptable behaviors for cyber activity by the international community. In the absence of a U.N.-led effort, the establishment of a Proliferation Security Initiative-type agreement could further steps to clarify “norms” and communicate “redlines” to potential adversaries. These steps would assist policy makers in the collective effort towards enabling the security of a networked world against the most dangerous cyber threats capable of causing mass casualties or mass destruction.

Parotid gland secretion rate was employed for measuring human response to gustatory stimuli. Flow rate had a linear relationship to logarithm of frequency of stimulation (swabs/min). Increasing concentration of gustatory stimuli resulted in increased rates of secretion. The response was linear throughout for sucrose and quinine, but with citric acid and sodium chloride it was linear only with lower concentrations. Mathematical expression of relationship between glandular secretion rate and frequency of stimulation permitted calculation of maximal response and reflex equilibrium constants for the various stimuli employed. Results indicated that at least 3 different gustato-salivary reflex pathways were involved.

SUMMARY Blueberries Vaccinium corymbosum cv. Patriot were harvested twice at the full ripe stage and held for 14 d at 0, 5, 10, 15, or 20°C. The objectives of this work were to (1) obtain quality curves for blueberries stored at different temperatures; (2) identify, for each temperature, which quality factor(s) limits blueberry marketability; and (3) compare the quality curves and shelf-life of blueberries based on quality evaluations with those predicted by respiration rates reported in the literature. Blueberry weight loss, instrumental color (L∗a∗b∗), visual color, firmness, shriveling, decay, taste, and aroma were evaluated every 2 d for a 14-day storage period. Development of an unpleasant taste and aroma were the primary limiting factors for blueberries stored at 0 and 5°C. Darkening of the color and development of unpleasant aroma were the primary limiting factors for berries stored at 10 or 15°C, and darkening of the color was the primary limiting factor for those fruit stored at 20°C. Overall, fruit stored at 0 or 5°C had shorter shelf life compared with predicted values based on the Q10 for respiration, while those stored at higher temperatures had longer shelf life. Prediction of blueberry shelf life calculated from data reported in the literature is not precise unless the characteristics of the fruit and environmental factors involved are well known. The quality curves obtained from quality evaluations for each temperature showed that a single quality attribute cannot be used to express loss of quality of blueberries over the normal physiological range of temperatures.

The United States Air Force of the 199Os faces perhaps the single greatest challenge to its institutional weltanschauung since it became an independent service in 1947. The specter of a hostile, expansionist Soviet Union-which, for the last 45 years, has justified the maintenance of a large strategic air force overwhelmingly oriented to the western European theater is fading fast with no similarly immense threat on the immediate horizon to take its place. As a result, the USAF, perhaps more than any other US military service, faces the prospect of losing the foundation upon which it has based its entire institutional identity and even its very existence. Strategic bombing is not mere doctrine to the USAF; it is its lifeblood and provides its entire raison d'etre. Strategic bombing is as central to the identity of the Air Force as the New Testament is to the Catholic church. Without the Gospels there would be no pope; and without strategic bombing there would be no Air Force. The theology of strategic bombing has influenced every aspect of the Air Force's development since well before World War II. This system of belief too often has led the keepers of the USAF's institutional memory to dismiss as aberrant, peripheral, and irrelevant anything that fell outside the narrow confines of its strategic concepts. The USAF's uncritical approach to its own past has enabled it to declare strategic bombing decisive where it was not (Europe, 1943%5); to claim victory where there was none (Vietnam, 1972); and to neglect those air operations that, indeed, proved indispensable and potentially decisive (tactical air campaigns in the European and Pacific theaters during World War II and in Korea during 1950 and 1951).