Retaliation against whistle blowers: Predictors and effects.

Examined the power–dependency relationships between "whistle blowers" and their employers through the regression analyses of survey data from 636 employees of federal agencies who had reported evidence of official wrongdoing. Ss reported that they were more likely to suffer retaliation if they lacked the support of their supervisors and managers. Retaliation was also more severe if the wrongdoing was serious and if the S used channels outside the organization to report the incident. Following severe retaliation, Ss were likely to file official complaints about the retaliation and to leave their jobs involuntarily. Other predictors of reactions to retaliatory action are discussed. (36 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Aging and reflective processes of working memory: Binding and test load deficits.

It was hypothesized that age-related deficits in episodic memory for feature combinations (e.g., B. L. Chalfonte & M. K. Johnson, 1996) signal, in part, decrements in the efficacy of reflective component processes (e.g., M. K. Johnson, 1992) that support the short-term maintenance and manipulation of information during encoding (e.g., F. I. M. Craik, R. G. Morris, & M. L. Gick, 1990; T. A. Salthouse, 1990). Consistent with this, age-related binding deficits in a working memory task were found in 2 experiments. Evidence for an age-related test load deficit was also found: Older adults had greater difficulty than young adults when tested on 2 features rather than 1, even when binding was not required. Thus, disruption of source memory in older adults may involve deficits in both encoding processes (binding deficits) and monitoring processes (difficulty accessing multiple features, evaluating them, or both). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychology interns as patient suicide survivors: Incidence, impact, and recovery.

The authors investigated incidence, impact, and methods of coping with patient suicide during the training years of psychology graduate students. All 54 interns in clinical psychology at the Boston VA in 1983–1988 were surveyed. One in 6 Ss had experienced a patient's suicide at some time during their training. The group who experienced a patient's suicide and a group who experienced a patient's suicide attempt both reported high levels of stress on the Impact of Event Scale. Trainees with patient suicides reported stress levels equivalent to that found in patient samples with bereavement and higher than that found with professional clinicians who had patient suicides. Trainees most frequently turned to supervisors for both support and formulation of the suicide. Preparatory efforts at suicide education were found to be minimal and inadequate. Recommendations for assisting the trainee who experiences a patient's suicide are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Assessment by Microscopy of the Coverage of Sludge Flocs by a Nano‐scale Surface Layer

Flocs are irregularly shaped suspended particles of complex structure and composition that occur naturally in aquatic systems. In water treatment facilities, the settling of flocs is extremely important. Transmission electron microscopy was used to quantify the formation of a nano‐scale surface layer on flocs from two laboratory bioreactors modelling a biological wastewater treatment facility. By comparing different floc populations, we demonstrated that flocs that settled quickly out of wastewater had a significant amount of this layer, whereas those with little nano‐scale surface layer had poor settling properties. This morphological feature of floc ultrastructure may permit engineering manipulations that promote floc settling.     

Adapting instruction to the cognitive demands of learning to program.

This study investigated how instructional practices influence what students learn in Pascal programming classes. The study contrasted 8 introductory and 8 Advanced Placement (AP) level courses because goals of teachers, classroom activities, and assigned tasks differ. Introductory students primarily learn syntax and AP students learn to plan and debug complex problems. These differing cognitive demands would seem to require different instructional practices. In order to establish instructional practices, students reported teaching strategies, course structure, and classroom resources. To demonstrate programming proficiency, students modified and analyzed a computer program. Programming proficiency varied as a function of instructional practices and class level. Introductory students benefited from direct instruction, and AP students performed better with less direct guidance and more opportunities for autonomy. Characteristics of effective programming instruction vary depending on the cognitive demands of courses. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of The legacy of the Holocaust: Psychohistorical themes in the second generation.

Reviews the book, The legacy of the Holocaust: Psychohistorical themes in the second generation by Robert M. Prince (see record 2000-08422-000). The concept that the Holocaust is a unique event in human history has been seriously debated. Is the Holocaust comparable to savage massacres of other groups at other times in civilization? Or is it an event that, because of its enormity, transcends all other barbarities in modern history? If it is unique, then this uniqueness must attach itself to the identity of the children of the survivors of the Holocaust. Prince addresses this issue of identity in this book. Prince identifies three significant sources of influence in the lives of these children: the parents' character style and their relationship with their children, the active participation of the children in imagery from their parents' past, and the cultural context in which the children have been raised. How these influences interweave and transform each other is a major focus of the study. The second focus is the relationship between the children of Holocaust survivors "and the events of history, involving observation of their adaptation to history and anticipation of their effect on it" (p. 15). Prince has undertaken an ambitious project. He has attempted to apply a psychoanalytically-informed methodology to the study of the Holocaust. He offers a scientific approach to the study of the transmission of trauma from one generation to the next. The work raises issues and questions that, it is hoped, will motivate others to continue the inquiry. The book strives to find meaning in response to the unimaginable and the unthinkable acts of mankind. It merits a place in the library of anyone concerned with the Holocaust or interested in psychohistorical explorations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Copper‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Conjugate Addition of Dimethylzinc to Acyl‐N‐methylimidazole Michael Acceptors: Scope,Limitations and Iterative Reactions

An efficient copper‐catalyzed enantioselective conjugate addition of dimethylzinc to unsaturated 2‐acyl‐N‐methylimidazoles has been achieved using a chiral bidentate hydroxyalkyl‐NHC ligand. The reactions proceed with excellent regioselectivity (1,4 vs. 1,6 and 1,8) in extended conjugated systems to afford the 1,4‐adducts in high enantioselectivities. This regioselectivity could be ascertained by DFT studies highlighting the crucial role of the imidazole ring. Thanks to the development of efficient protocols to regenerate the unsaturated 2‐acyl‐N‐methylimidazole moiety, an iterative process has been developed ultimately leading to 3,5,7 all‐syn or anti‐anti polydeoxypropionate stereodiads.

     

Drinking to regulate positive and negative emotions: A motivational model of alcohol use.

The present study proposed and tested a motivational model of alcohol use in which people are hypothesized to use alcohol to regulate both positive and negative emotions. Two central premises underpin this model: (a) that enhancement and coping motives for alcohol use are proximal determinants of alcohol use and abuse through which the influence of expectancies, emotions, and other individual differences are mediated and (b) that enhancement and coping motives represent phenomenologically distinct behaviors having both unique antecedents and consequences. This model was tested in 2 random samples (1 of adults, 1 of adolescents) using a combination of moderated regression and path analysis corrected for measurement error. Results revealed strong support for the hypothesized model in both samples and indicate the importance of distinguishing psychological motives for alcohol use. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

European citizen and consumer attitudes and preferences regarding beef and pork

This paper presents the combined mid-term findings of the consumer research components of two EU Sixth Framework Programme integrated projects concerning meat, ProSafeBeef and Q-PorkChains. The consumer pillar of ProSafeBeef carried out eight focus group discussions in May 2008, in France, Germany, Spain and the UK. Q-PorkChains conducted a large-scale, web-based, consumer survey in January 2008 in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece and Poland. The first project provides a set of qualitative data from a small cohort of focus groups and the second a set of quantitative data from a larger consumer sample. This paper draws together the main findings of both projects and provides a comprehensive overview of European citizens’ and consumers’ attitudes towards and preferences regarding beef and pork. In general, consumers consider meat to be a healthy and important component of the diet. Consumers support the development of technologies that can improve the health attributes of meat products and guarantee eating quality, but they have a negative view of what they see to be excessive manipulation and lack of naturalness in the production and processing of beef products. In the Q-PorkChains study consumer and citizen segments are identified and profiled. Consumer segments were built upon the frequency and variety of pork consumption. The citizen segments were built upon their attitudes towards pig production systems. Overall, the relationship between individuals’ views as citizens and their behaviour as consumers was found to be quite weak and did not appear to greatly or systematically influence meat-buying habits. Future studies in both projects will concentrate on consumers’ acceptance of innovative meat product concepts and products, with the aim of boosting consumer trust and invigorating the European beef and pork industries.     

Comparing surface residue transfer efficiencies to hands using polar and nonpolar fluorescent tracers

Transfer of chemicals from contaminated surfaces such as foliage, floors, and furniture is a potentially significant source of both occupational exposure and children's residential exposure. Increased understanding of relevant factors influencing transfers from contaminated surfaces to skin and resulting dermal-loading will reduce uncertainty in exposure assessment. In a previously reported study, a fluorescence imaging system was developed, tested, and used to measure transfer of riboflavin residues from surfaces to hands. Parameters evaluated included surface type, surface loading, contact motion, pressure, duration, and skin condition. Results of the initial study indicated that contact duration and pressure were not significant for the range of values tested, but that there are potentially significant differences in transfer efficiencies of different compounds. In the study reported here, experimental methods were refined and additional transfer data were collected. A second fluorescent tracer, Uvitex OB, with very different physicochemical properties than riboflavin, was also evaluated to better characterize the range of transfers that may be expected for a variety of compounds. Fluorescent tracers were applied individually to surfaces and transfers to skin were measured after repeated hand contacts with the surface. Additional trials were conducted to compare transfer of tracers and co-applied pesticide residues. Results of this study indicate that dermal loadings of both tracers increase through the seventh brief contact. Dermal loading of Uvitex tends to increase at a higher rate than dermal loadings of riboflavin. Measurement of co-applied tracer and pesticide suggest results for these two tracers may provide reasonable bounding estimates of pesticide transfer.