Ecological momentary assessment in a behavioral drinking moderation training program.

We assessed predictors of self-reported excessive drinking (>5 drinks) in a sample of heavy drinkers. Participants were randomly assigned to moderation training or a waiting-list control condition. They were trained in ecological momentary assessment (EMA) involving self-monitoring of drinking and other variables on a small hand-held computer, the electronic diary (ED). During the 8-week study, participants were compliant in their use of the ED for both random prompts and the entry of data related to specific drinking episodes. Generalized estimating equations were used to fit models involving predictors related to past history of drinking, aspects of the training program, drinking restraint, and episode-specific mood. The models indicated robust predictors of decreased and increased drinking. Our results suggest that EMA is a useful methodology for assessing drinking and related behaviors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of aerobic exercise training, age, and physical fitness on memory-search performance.

We investigated the effects of exercise training on memory performance. One group of 13 men (M?=?42.92 years of age) participated in supervised aerobic exercise (jogging) three times a week for 12 weeks. A second group of 15 men (M?=?43.67 years of age) performed anaerobic exercise (strength training) for the same period of time. Subjects' reaction time (RT) performance in a memory-search task was assessed both before (Time 1) and after (Time 2) the 12 weeks of exercise training. Results indicated that there was no significant change in memory-search performance over time as a function of exercise training. Analyses of the Time 2 RTs demonstrated that aspects of memory-search performance were related significantly both to subjects' initial (Time 1) level of fitness and to age, but not to the amount of change of fitness associated with aerobic exercise training over this 12-week duration in this age group. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Inventory of interpersonal problems: Psychometric properties and clinical applications.

Describes a new instrument, the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP), which measures distress arising from interpersonal sources. The IIP meets the need for an easily administered self-report inventory that describes the types of interpersonal problems that people experience and the level of distress associated with them before, during, and after psychotherapy. In Study 1, psychometric data are presented for 103 patients who were tested at the beginning and end of a waiting period before they began brief dynamic psychotherapy. On both occasions, a factor analysis yielded the same six subscales; these scales showed high internal consistency and high test–retest reliability. Study 2 demonstrated the instrument's sensitivity to clinical change. In this study, a subset of patients was tested before, during, and after 20 sessions of psychotherapy. Their improvement on the IIP agreed well with all other measures of their improvement, including those generated by the therapist and by an independent evaluator. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Analysis of RNA polymerase by trypsin cleavage. Different structural changes produced by heparin and DNA

Alterations in RNA polymerase structure can be detected using initial trypsin cleavage rates as a conformational probe. Both template (poly[d(A-T) . d(A-T)] and the RNA polymerase inhibitor, heparin, alter the rates at which the subunits of the enzyme are cleaved. However, while the presence of poly[d(A-T) . d(A-T)] slows the cleavage of subunits beta, sigma, and alpha by trypsin, heparin accelerates the cleavage of beta and sigma. Furthermore, the presence of heparin does not prevent the effect of poly[d(A-T) . d(A-T)] on the beta and sigma cleavage rates. Thus, heparin does not eliminate the interaction between DNA and RNA polymerase. That heparin does alter the nature of this interaction is demonstrated by the fact that template decreases the trypsin cleavage rate of subunit alpha in the absence, but not in the presence, of heparin. Like heparin, the addition of RNA to the reaction increases the accessibility of beta and sigma to trypsin. Hence the interaction of heparin with RNA polymerase may mimic the product, rather than the template, interaction.     

Measuring the perceived support for innovation in organizations.

On the basis of previous analyses of a mental hospital and a university graduate program, 5 a priori dimensions characteristic of innovative organizations were postulated. A Likert-type scale measuring members' perception of their organizations on these dimensions was developed and piloted with teachers and students in a traditional and an innovative secondary school. The scale was then refined and administered to 1,899 additional Ss in 6 traditional high schools. A factor analysis of the responses revealed a major factor (support of creativity) and 2 smaller factors (tolerance of diversity and feelings of ownership). Reliable factor indices were created for the final 61-item instrument, and a validity study was conducted with 2 additional innovative schools. Results indicate significant differences on the scale between respondents from innovative and traditional schools. The results and implications are discussed and suggestions made for further use of the scale. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Autokinetic phenomenon: A critical review.

Reviews studies grouped under the areas of response problems, dynamic determinants, individual differences, clinical studies, reduction of movement, and theories of autokinesis (AK). Much of the work to date is concerned with the demonstration of various "suggestion effects" without regard to the basis of residual AK. Determinants of AK are many and varied but little can be said about their relative potencies. Although a modified version of the Gregory-Zangwill model may serve well, there is presently no single theory of AK which accounts for all the data. Further developments in the theory and control of AK hinge upon the sedulous development of improved techniques for measuring AK. 3 criteria for measuring AK are offered. (3 p. ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

160 Gb/s variable length packet/10 Gb/s-label all-optical label switching with wavelength conversion and unicast/multicast operation

We report on the first demonstration of all-optical label switching (AOLS) with 160 Gb/s variable length packets and 10 Gb/s optical labels. This result demonstrates the transparency of AOLS techniques from previously demonstrated 2.5 Gb/s to this 160 Gb/s demonstration using a common routing and packet lookup framework. Packet forwarding/conversion, optical label erasure/re-write and signal regeneration at 160 Gb/s is achieved using a WDM Raman enhanced all-optical fiber cross-phase modulation wavelength converter. It is also experimentally shown that this technique enables packet unicast and multicast operation at 160 Gb/s. The packet bit-error-rate is measured for all optical label switched 16 /spl times/ 10 Gb/s channels and error free operation is demonstrated after both label swapping and packet forwarding.     

High-Temperature Optical Absorption Measurement of Single-Crystal, Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia

High-temperature optical absorption measurements were performed on single-crystal yttria-stabilized zirconia. The optical band gap (E_g) can be represented in the temperature range 15° to 1010°C as E_g(T)=3.40-5.16x10⁻⁴T(K)(eV).     

Corrosion of thorium and thorium alloys and reactions with the environment

The published literature on reactions between metallic thorium and oxygen, nitrogen, air, hydrogen, and water vapor is briefly reviewed. For reactions with oxygen and nitrogen the reaction rate follows a parabolic-rate law at low temperatures, but is linear at higher temperatures. The change in reaction kinetics is apparently due to the process being diffusion controlled in the temperature range where the reaction layer is continuous but controlled by the reaction at the surface-layer base-metal interface at higher temperatures. The reaction rate between thorium and air was found to be linear from 100 to 900°C, while the reaction rate between thorium and hydrogen was parabolic up to 700°C.