Ethylene oxide sterilization of bone grafts. Residual gas concentration and fibroblast toxicity

We examined the concentration of ethylene oxide in bone allografts after gas sterilization. Chips of the human femoral head were investigated. Residual gas concentration was determined by gas chromatography after the bone chips had been subjected to defatting and freeze-drying, followed by ethylene oxide gas sterilization. Bones were prepared in various ways in an attempt to reduce the concentration of residual ethylene oxide. The concentration was higher when gas sterilization was performed before freeze-drying than when it was done afterwards. An experiment performed with fibroblasts showed the high toxicity of residual ethylene oxide in bone chips, even when the concentration was very low. The growth of fibroblast was reduced more in medium which had been shaken with bones sterilized with ethylene oxide before freeze-drying than in medium which had been shaken with bones sterilized after freeze-drying. The higher residual ethylene oxide concentrations resulted in a decrease in fibroblastic culture activity. Our experiment showed the importance of reducing the residual ethylene oxide gas concentration. Defatting and freeze-drying result in lower residual ethylene oxide concentrations.     

An evaluation of item-by-item test administration.

Administered a battery of 3 tests to 2 groups of 615 airmen in their 1st wk of basic training. One group was tested in the normal way, and the other was tested with an item-by-item form of administration. Results indicate that the item-by-item administration was in no way superior to the usual method. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The evaluation of a color-naming test for color blindness.

A simple color-naming test for color blindness was developed using the Eastman Color Temperature Meter, and compared with three other color-vision tests: the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue Test, AO Pseudo-Isochromatic Plates, and Freeman Illuminant-Stable Color Vision Test on a sample of 100 Ss. "The data indicated that there was fairly high agreement among the American Optical, Eastman and Freeman tests… . The correlations of the Farnsworth with the other three tests were somewhat lower, indicating that the Farnsworth is apparently measuring factors not measured by the other tests… . It is significant that high correlations were obtained between naming and color competence." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of liquid chemical sterilization with peracetic acid and ethylene oxide sterilization for long narrow lumens

The aim of this study was to determine how well peracetic acid liquid chemical sterilization (LCPAS) killed test organisms in the presence of 10% fetal bovine serum and 0.65% salt challenge (RPMI-S) compared with a 100% ethylene oxide (ETO) sterilizer and an ETO hydrochlorofluorocarbon (ETO-HCFC) sterilization method with long (125 cm), narrow (3-mm internal diameter) flexible lumens as the test carrier. The inoculated lumens were dried overnight before processing. The test organisms included Mycobacterium chelonei, Enterococcus faecalis, and Bacillus subtilis. For all 3 organisms tested, the LCPAS process resulted in a 6 log10 reduction in bacterial load compared with a 2.5 log10 to 6 log10 reduction for the 100% ETO and ETO-HCFC sterilizers. Sterilization was achieved for 100%, 61%, and 67% of the lumen test carriers for the LCPAS, 100% ETO, and ETO-HCFC sterilizers, respectively. The data indicate that of the sterilization methods evaluated, LCPAS was the most effective for sterilizing narrow flexible lumens in the presence of residual inorganic and organic soil. This effectiveness was achieved through a combination of organism wash-off and peracetic acid sterilant killing of organisms. Salt was the major compounding factor for effective ETO gas sterilization, because carriers inoculated with organisms in 10% fetal bovine serum alone all were sterilized by both 100% ETO and ETO-HCFC sterilization methods. Our data support the critical need to ensure adequate precleaning of narrow flexible lumen endoscopes before any sterilization method.     

An analysis and evaluation of test and item bias in the prediction context.

Presents a perspective on test and item bias in predicting the performance of individuals in majority and minority groups. It is suggested that a difference between groups in the slope of the regression of the criterion on a test used for prediction represents bias that can frequently be corrected. Given a criterion with adequate measurement properties, the selection of items with essentially equivalent discrimination indices is expected to produce approximately parallel slopes. Accordingly, items having different discrimination indices are themselves biased. Intercept bias, on the other hand, is essentially not under the control of the test constructor. It is argued that the goal of producing a test without intercept bias is an unreasonable one. These problems are illustrated by factor models of intercept bias. It is concluded that relative differences in item-difficulty levels from group to group, given items with adequate discrimination indices, should not be labeled as bias. Such items are not automatic candidates for discard. (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An empirical test of a model of nontraditional student adjustment.

Predictors and consequences of psychological adjustment were examined by testing a model of nontraditional student adjustment. The empirical model, developed from prior conceptual work (J. P. Bean and B. S. Metzner, 1985), featured developmentally relevant factors, such as family support and career-related academic variables. Results supported the feasibility of the model. Academic and noncollege environmental variables were predictive of institutional commitment and an absence of psychological distress, which in turn predicted intended continuance in school. Implications of the results were related to the special academic and personal needs of nontraditional students. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An evaluation of a brief group therapy for depression.

Evaluated a brief group therapy for treating 20 depressed outpatients. As an adjunct to group therapy, clients used written self-instructional materials to guide them in monitoring and increasing their frequency of pleasurable activities. Ss were randomly assigned to an immediate (IT) or delayed treatment (DT) group. Results did not support the effectiveness of IT. However, after receiving treatment, DT clients successfully increased activities and decreased depression relative to IT. (2 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An experimental test of schema interaction.

"In an attempt to test propositions about the interaction of schemata, three stimuli, incidental to the stimulus to be rated, were paired with three supraliminal faces in a partly balanced design. Twenty-three subjects rated the stimuli and faces initially on an Osgood Semantic Differential. In a second session, several months later, they rated each face again, preceded by one of the objects below the level of focal awareness. It was predicted that the object and face schemata aroused by the first rating would be reactivated, and would interact in a predictable way to produce a new rating of the face. For two of the three types of objects, ratings of the face following the negative and control incidental stimuli moved in the direction of the object rating, in support of the hypothesis. The findings were discussed in terms of a theory of incidental schemata that influence ongoing cognition." From Psyc Abstracts 36:04:4CM11S. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An initial evaluation of a clinical psychology practicum training program.

Assessed 2 groups of clinical psychology graduate student trainees (N?=?26) either 3 or 4 times over the 1st 2 yrs of training. Skills measured included the ability to both communicate and discriminate empathic responses. Faculty supervisory ratings of Ss and internship supervisory ratings were obtained. For comparison purposes, data were gathered from 9 graduate trainees who did not undergo systematic skills training. Results indicate that both experimental training groups (receiving skill training) improved in their ability to produce empathic responses as compared with the control group. The training group that received the more intense and experiential training showed greater improvement in ability to discriminate facilitative responses. Faculty ratings during practicum did not reveal improvement; however, internship supervisory ratings did reflect trainee improvement. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An empirical study of a proposed test of nonparametric analysis of covariance.

Puri and Sen (1969b) introduced a nonparametric test statistic that, because of its relationship to the general linear model, subsumes many commonly performed hypothesis tests. Following the work of Puri and Sen, Harwell and Serlin (1985) proposed a test of the nonparametric analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) hypothesis. In order to use this statistic, ranks (or some other transformation) are substituted for the original scores. Standard statistical packages can then be used to perform the analysis, and the results of the test are referred to the appropriate reference distribution. The similarity of the rank transformation of Conover and Iman (1981) to this procedure is noted, and the results of a Monte Carlo study investigating the distributional properties (i.e., Type I error rate and power) of the proposed test and other nonparametric analyses of covariance models are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An empirical study of Hedge's homogeneity test.

The behavior of the L. V. Hedges's (see record 1983-00213-001) Q test for the fixed-effects meta-analytic model was investigated for small and unequal study sample sizes paired with larger numbers of studies, nonnormal score distributions, and unequal variances. The results of a Monte Carlo study indicate that the hypothesis of equal effect sizes tends to be rejected less than expected if smaller study sample sizes are paired with larger numbers of studies; pairing smaller variances with larger sample sizes (or vice versa) leads to this hypothesis being rejected more than expected. The power of the Q test is also less than expected when small study sample sizes are paired with larger numbers of studies. These findings suggest conditions for which the Q test should be used cautiously. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An exact multinomial one-sample test of significance.

The exact multinomial test described in this article can be used to test the significance of variations in the numbers of observations distributed into 2 or more mutually-exclusive categories. When there are only 2 categories the test reduces to the binomial test. The test is valid for samples of any size but it quickly becomes prohibitively difficult to apply as the total number of categories increases. A comparison with the chi-square test shows how seriously the latter may be in error when the number of observations is small. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Measurement of exhaled nitric oxide. A new lung function test?

Nitric oxide (NO) is a gas molecule produced endogenously in the lungs. It can be detected in the exhaled air of animals and humans. Nitric oxide can be generated in the air passages by a synthase which is induced in several cell types by exposure to proinflammatory cytokines. Its induction is blocked by glucocorticoids. An increased concentration of nitric oxide can be found in the exhaled air of patients with asthma and other inflammatory lung disorders. Gas analysers for measuring nitric oxide in exhaled air have recently been made commercially available. The test is non-invasive, simple to perform, and can also be used in patients with reduced lung function. The method seems to provide a unique non-invasive means of diagnosing and monitoring inflammation of the air passages, and in the future the test may become a useful tool in a clinical setting. Preliminary recommendations for measurements and technical standardization have recently been proposed by the European Respiratory Society.     

An evaluation of the DSM-II classification of schizophrenia as a nomenclature.

Established 3 criteria by which the concepts of schizophrenia in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 2nd edition (DSM-II) could be analyzed: reliability, coverage, and overlap. 71 artificial patients were generated to uniformly represent a behavioral measurement space. 55 clinical psychologists and psychiatrists diagnosed the artificial patients using the DSM-II classificatory concepts of schizophrenia. Results concerning the criteria show that: (a) an empirical representation of overlap provided a new hierarchical representation of the DSM-II classification of schizophrenia; (b) reliability and coverage varied inversely; and (c) the DSM-II failed to serve as an adequate nomenclature. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Presterilization interviewing: An evaluation.

The role of interviewing in diffusing possible harmful side effects of sterilization operations was evaluated in an acute general hospital. This hospital required an interview with a chaplain before either a vasectomy or a tubal-ligation operation. Two simultaneous field experiments were conducted with 50 vasectomy couples and 50 tubal-ligation couples. Couples applying for either operation were alternately assigned to either the interview or the control group. Questionnaires were mailed to all couples 6 mo after the operation. Results are based on the responses of 67 couples who followed through with the sterilization procedure. There were no significant differences between the interview and control groups. The vasectomy couples scored significantly higher than the tubal-ligation couples on 6 of 9 measures in the questionnaire. The wives in the vasectomy group had a significantly lower level than the wives in the tubal-ligation group. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Race as a moderator in a model of sexual harassment: An empirical test.

L. F. Fitzgerald, C. L. Hulin. and F. Drasgow (1995) proposed that victim characteristics, such as race, might moderate the relationships between sexual harassment and its job, psychological, and health status outcomes. This study describes 2 theoretical positions, tokenism and double jeopardy, that could account for this possible moderation by race, as well as the alternative view that no moderating effects exist. The effects of race are empirically examined through simultaneous path analysis. Results indicate that whereas, mean levels of harassment differ across race, the phenomenon of sexual harassment unfolds similarly across races; race is not a moderator of the relationships between sexual harassment and the variables proposed as its antecedents and outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)