Individual and sex differences in the zone of acceptable alternatives.

This study examined the construct of the zone of acceptable alternatives proposed by L. S. Gottfredson (see record 1982-03363-001) in her developmental theory of career aspiration. College students (95 men and 151 women) responded to a demographic questionnaire, the Bem Sex-Role Inventory, and the Occupations List. The Occupations List consisted of 155 occupational titles, and subjects were asked to indicate whether they had considered each of the occupations and when. Occupations considered were coded with measurements of sex type and prestige, and 5 indicators were computed for each subject as multiple operational definitions of the zone of acceptable alternatives. Changes in some of the indicators over time were identified. Differences in the indicators were found to be related to gender and sex role orientation of the participants. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for Gottfredson's model and for counseling practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interpersonal communication skills differentiating more satisfying from less satisfying marital relationships.

In this study 25 statements representing specific communication skills were derived from a review of the literature and arranged as 2 scales: Interpersonal Communication Skills Inventory-Self (ICSI-Self) and Interpersonal Communication Skills Inventory-Spouse (ICSI-Spouse). Instruments completed by 111 married couples were the Marital Adjustment Test, the Marital Communication Inventory, the ICSI-Self, and the ICSI-Spouse. Scores on the Marital Adjustment Test were used to identify criterion groups as most satisfied (28 couples) and least satisfied (21 couples). A multiple discriminant analysis indicated that 14 of the 25 ICSI-Self items and 17 of the 25 ICSI-Spouse items differentiated the 2 criterion groups at the .05 level of significance or better. Findings suggest that the set of skills identified may be effective as a brief scale of potential use to marriage counselors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cotton fabric surface modification for improved UV radiation protection using sol–gel process

In this study, lightweight 100% cotton fabric was successfully modified by the sol–gel process to impart high ultraviolet radiation (UVR) scattering property to the fabric surface. Active ingredients were tetraethyl orthotitanate [Ti(OCH₂CH₃)₄] and tetraethyl orthosilicate [Si(OCH₂CH₃)₄]. The cotton fabric was padded with the nanosol solution, dried at 60°C, and cured at 150°C. Scanning electron microscopy showed continuous and uniform film on the fiber surface. Excellent UVR scattering was obtained with all treated fabrics. Increasing titania content in the nanosol solution leads to increased UVR protection. This is attributed to the increase of the refractive index of the film formed on the fabric surface. Excellent durability of the treatment was obtained, which indicates a good adhesion between the coating and the fabric surface. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 111–117, 2007.     

Soft Matter in a Tight Spot: Nanorheology of Confined Liquids and Block Copolymers

The linear frequency-dependent shear rheology and force–distance profiles of molecularly-thin fluids of very different structure were contrasted: a globular molecule octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (OMCTS), branched alkanes (3-methylundecane and squalane), and a polymer brush in near-theta solution (polystyrene-polyvinylpyridine). In each case the data suggest a prolongation of the longest relaxation time (τ₁) with increasing compression. At frequencies ω > 1/τ₁ the shear response was “solid-like”, but at ω < 1/τ₁ it was “liquid-like”. OMCTS under mild compression exhibited seeming power-law viscoelastic behavior with G′(ω) = G″(ω) over a wide frequency range. Of the branched-molecule fluids, 3-methylundecane exhibited oscillatory force–distance profiles; this confirms prior computer simulations. But squalane (6 pendant methyl groups in an alkane chain 24 carbons long) showed one sole broad attractive minimum. Polymer brushes in a near-theta solvent exhibited changes qualitatively similar to those OMCTS, in particular, a smooth progression of longest relaxation time, generating a transition from “liquid-like” to “solid-like” shear rheology with decreasing film thickness. The common trend of shear response in these systems, in spite of important differences in molecular structure and force–distance profiles, is emphasized.     

Characterization of cerebral hemodynamic phases following severe head trauma: hypoperfusion, hyperemia, and vasospasm

The extent and timing of posttraumatic cerebral hemodynamic disturbances have significant implications for the monitoring and treatment of patients with head injury. This prospective study of cerebral blood flow (CBF) (measured using 133Xe clearance) and transcranial Doppler (TCD) measurements in 125 patients with severe head trauma has defined three distinct hemodynamic phases during the first 2 weeks after injury. The phases are further characterized by measurements of cerebral arteriovenous oxygen difference (AVDO[2]) and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO[2]). Phase I (hypoperfusion phase) occurs on the day of injury (Day 0) and is defined by a low CBF calculated from cerebral clearance curves integrated to 15 minutes (mean CBF 32.3 +/- 2 ml/100 g/minute), normal middle cerebral artery (MCA) velocity (mean V[MCA] 56.7 +/- 2.9 cm/second), normal hemispheric index ([HI], mean HI 1.67 +/- 0.11), and normal AVDO(2) (mean AVDO[2] 5.4 +/- 0.5 vol%). The CMRO, is approximately 50% of normal (mean CMRO(2) 1.77 +/- 0.18 ml/100 g/minute) during this phase and remains depressed during the second and third phases. In Phase II (hyperemia phase, Days 1-3), CBF increases (46.8 +/- 3 ml/100 g/minute), AVDO(2) falls (3.8 +/- 0.1 vol%), V(MCA) rises (86 +/- 3.7 cm/second), and the HI remains less than 3 (2.41 +/- 0.1). In Phase III (vasospasm phase, Days 4-15), there is a fall in CBF (35.7 +/- 3.8 ml/100 g/minute), a further increase in V(MCA) (96.7 +/- 6.3 cm/second), and a pronounced rise in the HI (2.87 +/- 0.22). This is the first study in which CBF, metabolic, and TCD measurements are combined to define the characteristics and time courses of, and to suggest etiological factors for, the distinct cerebral hemodynamic phases that occur after severe craniocerebral trauma. This research is consistent with and builds on the findings of previous investigations and may provide a useful temporal framework for the organization of existing knowledge regarding posttraumatic cerebrovascular and metabolic pathophysiology.     

The Fort Bragg evaluation: A snapshot in time.

The recently completed Fort Bragg Child and Adolescent Mental Health Demonstration Project (L. Bickman, see record 83-31861; L. Bickman et al, 1995) has provided an opportunity to develop a fully comprehensive continuum of mental health and substance abuse services. However, the study's findings have raised questions concerning the usefulness of the continuum of care and the effectiveness of changing the structure of service delivery on clinical practice and outcomes. The author discusses the planning, methodology, and implementation of the project, and offers some additional insights into potential pitfalls in the evaluation of complex programs and the risks for drawing sweeping conclusions from a study done at a point in time. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Battered women, psychology, and public policy.

Reviews the role that psychologists have played in affecting changes in public policy regarding domestic violence over the past decade. Testimony by expert witnesses has rebutted myths that prevented battered women who killed their abusers from receiving fair trials. Three case vignettes are presented to illustrate how psychological knowledge has helped the judicial system to develop public policy. Because organized psychology has submitted amicus curiae briefs in this area, appellate court cases now usually support the admissibility of a psychologist's testimony as to the battered woman's perception of danger and the reasonableness of her perception of the need for self-defense. The public impact of high-visibility battered women cases is discussed. (28 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Improved Invariant Generation for Tvoc

The NYU Tvoc project applies the method of translation validation to verify that optimized code is semantically equivalent to the unoptimized code, by establishing, for each run of the optimizing compiler, a set of verification conditions (VCs) whose validity implies the correctness of the optimized run. The core of Tvoc is Tvoc-sp, that handles structure preserving optimizations, i.e., optimizations that do not alter the inner loop structures. The underlying proof rule, Val, on whose soundness Tvoc-sp is based, requires, among other things, to generating invariants at each “cutpoint” of the control graph of both source and target codes. The current implementation of Tvoc-sp employs somewhat naïve fix-point computations to obtain the invariants. In this paper, we propose an alternative method to compute invartiants which is based on simple data-flow analysis techniques.     

Current perspectives on men who batter women—implications for intervention and treatment to stop violence against women: Comment on Gottman et al. (1995).

The understanding and treatment of men who batter women has been dominated by the feminist political analysis of woman abuse that stresses abnormal power and control needs arising from sexist gender socialization. In this article, the author examines recent findings on psychological and physiological differences in batterers and places those findings within the context of what is known about battered women. In particular, comments are made on the Gottman et al. (1995) research that looks at the physiological similarities and differences of different types of batterers' anger, its expression, and its impact on intervention programs for those involved in battering relationships. Ethical concerns for the safety of battered women are discussed along with recommendations for a variety of different types of therapy programs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The life and career plans of young adult college women: A follow-up study.

Conducted a follow-up study of 391 women 6 yrs after they entered college. 41% of Ss were no longer pursuing the bachelor's degree, 63% were married, and 46% planned to combine work and family life. A total of 71% were employed; 45% were employed in their chosen careers, which were predominantly in social/medical services and clerical fields. Attitudes toward women's roles were liberal, and Ss were aware of sex discrimination. Since high school, Ss had considered an average of 9 occupations. Traditional choices (e.g., housewife, nurse, social worker, and teacher) continued to be popular, but more nontraditional choices (e.g., physicist and college professor) were becoming included. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)