Assessing children's competence: Mothers' and teachers' ratings of competent behavior.

The purposes of this study were to test the replicability of the factor structure of the Health Resources Inventory (HRI; E. L. Gesten [see PA, Vol 57:7209]) for teachers, to describe the factor organization of the HRI when used with parents, and to assess the strength of agreement between parents' and teachers' views of children's competence. Parents' ratings were available for 269 children (ages 4 to 12 years), and teachers' ratings were gathered for a subset of 102. Analysis of teachers' responses confirmed a 5-factor structure of the HRI. The factor structure for mothers closely mirrored that of teachers. The similarity of factor structure argues for the usefulness of the HRI in assessing children's competence at home and school. The relatively modest correlation between mothers' and teachers' ratings suggests possible setting differences in children's behavior and/or variance related to rater source. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Quality-of-life measures: Hospital interview versus home questionnaire.

Used measures adapted from social survey research to assess the quality of life of 33 18–55 yr old end-stage renal disease patients in a 2-wk test–retest design that varied both location and format of administration (hospital interview vs home self-administered questionnaire). Results indicate that quality of life is a stable construct and support the usefulness of questionnaire quality-of-life measures for evaluating medical interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Prediction of axial and off-axis yield behavior of lsotactic polypropylene film from structural state parameters

Since only minor structural rearrangements occur prior to yielding, the axial and off-axis yield stress of a polymer sample is expected to relate to the initial structural state of the material. Samples of uniaxially oriented isotactic polypropylene films with known structural state parameters have been deformed under a uniaxial tensile stress at deformation rates of 20 percent and 100 percent per minute over an angular range from 0 to 90 degrees to the fabrication direction. The axial yield stress data was found to correlate with the initial noncrystalline orientation state of the undeformed sample. The axial and offaxis yield stress data was fit to the Hill equation derived for the application of a uniaxial tensile stress. The experimentally determined coefficients from the best fit of the yield stress data to the Hill equation were related to the measured structural state parameters. These correlations allow prediction of the yield stress of an anisotropic film at any angle to the film symmetry axis from knowledge of the measured structural state parameters alone.     

Statistics of enumerating total coliforms in water samples by membrane filter procedures

A commonly used assumption is that the microbial counts of a given water sample are randomly distributed according to Poisson statistics and, in particular, that replicate analyses of the same sample are so distributed. Using Fisher's index of dispersion, as well as a newly developed test, analysis of prior data on membrane filter total coliform organisms in a variety of water samples indicated that, in many cases, the assumption of Poisson statistics was incorrect, but that the data were consistent with a negative binomial distribution. This finding has significance in the interpretation of total coliform counts for regulatory as well as research purposes, and further research to delineate the responsible mechanisms is required.     

Modelling and experimental verification of physical and chemical processes during pyrolysis of a large biomass particle

A mathematical model of wood pyrolysis is presented that is in satisfactory agreement with experimental reaction product distributions over a range of conditions of practical importance for gasification and combustion. Both chemical and physical processes are described, using fundamental principles. Inclusion of water release, tar cracking and char deposition chemical reactions results in predictions of ultimate product distributions (gas, tar and char yields) that are in good agreement with experiment and can aid in optimization of processes to maximize or minimize tar production. Predictions of the rate at which products are instantaneously released from a single wood pellet are also in agreement with experiment. This capability is important for combustion modelling and gasifier simulation. The study provides both extensive data and a fundamental modelling approach that will enhance understanding of the effects of physical properties and processes on the chemistry of devolatilizing biomass. The work emphasizes the need for information both on char deposition rates during carbonization of a range of fuel types and on char thermal properties over a wide range of temperatures and porosities.     

A coping skills model of psychological diagnosis and treatment.

Presents a model for psychological diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders that is based on coping skills rather than on symptoms or pathologies. Coping skills, defined broadly as components of adaptability, are classified into 3 general areas: interpersonal relationships, thinking and feeling, and approaches to self and life. These 3 areas are further divided into 11 coping-skills categories. This model is intended to be applicable to all ages. It requires systematic assessment of an individual's current life situation in relation to that person's coping skills and coping-skills deficiencies. After such an assessment, interventions are directed toward assisting the individual to enhance appropriate coping skills. It is anticipated that this coping skills model may be used both independently and in conjunction with other diagnostic systems. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Transport of penetrants in the macromolecular structure of coals III. Dynamic swelling of stiff polymer networks that simulate the coal structure

The structure of three cross-linked polymers containing naphthalenic rings in their backbone structure was investigated by dynamic swelling and thermal analytic techniques. It was determined that the pyridine and n-proplyamine transport in microparticles (40 μm) of these polymers was non-Fickian, often approaching case II transport and sometimes even supercase II transport. The thermal analysis showed relatively stable structures up to about 350°C.     

Disability and coping as predictors of psychological adjustment to rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have been identified as a medical population at risk for psychological disorder, largely because of the pain and functional disability that are the hallmarks of the disease. This study examined the degree to which self-reported functional disability and coping efforts contribute to psychological adjustment among adult RA patients over a 6-month period. Adaptive outcomes included maintaining a sense of worth, mastery, and positive affect despite the illness. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that increases in disability were related to decreased acceptance of illness and increased negative affect. Coping efforts were related to increases in positive affect. The findings provide modest support for the role individual coping efforts play in shaping illness-related outcomes. Although disability is not easily reversed, knowledge about coping strategies that moderate its psychological impact may provide a useful basis for designing psychological interventions to promote adjustment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Individual differences in emotion regulation and behavior problems in preschool children.

Emotion regulation (ER) was assessed during a negative mood induction in 79 preschoolers who varied in degree of behavior problems. Facial expressivity during the induction was used to identify 3 ER groups: inexpressive, modulated expressive, and highly expressive. Group differences in ER were significantly related to heart rate and skin conductance. Inexpressive preschoolers had the highest heart rate, lowest vagal tone, and smallest autonomic nervous system (ANS) change during the induction. Highly expressive preschoolers had the slowest heart rate, highest vagal tone, and largest ANS change. The inexpressive and highly expressive groups had more externalizing symptoms than the modulated group at preschool age and at follow-up at the end of 1st grade. Inexpressive preschoolers appeared to have more depressed and anxious symptoms at follow-up. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)