Interactions between job stressors and social support: Some counterintuitive results.

Job stressors (underutilization of skills, quantitative workload, and job future ambiguity) and social support (tangible and emotional support from supervisor, coworkers, and nonjob sources) were used to predict psychological and physiological strains (job dissatisfaction, boredom, workload dissatisfaction, depression, heart rate, and blood pressure) and organizational consequences (absenteeism and job performance) among 102 hospital nurses (mean age 37.4 yrs). Based on previous theory and research, social support was expected to moderate the relationship between stressors and strains so that stressors would be less strongly related to strains in the presence of strong social support than under conditions of less social support. Several interactions were found, but all were in the direction opposite from predictions (i.e., social support strengthened the positive relationship between stressors and strains). This result contradicts most theories and models of job stress and social support. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A multivariate optimization of triacylglycerol analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography

In the present study we have used statistical experimental design and multivariate optimization to formally optimize a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method for the analysis of triacylglycerol molecular species of natural oils. The optimal conditions found were, on an octadecylsilan-column, from acetonitrile/isooctane (90∶10, vol/vol) to acetonitrile/ethanol/isooctane (40∶35∶25, by vol), at a column temperature of 50°C and a flowrate of 1.5mL/min using a negative exponential gradient profile. Several examples of separations of natural seed and animal oils,i.e., soybean oil, rapeseed oil, palm oil, linseed oil, tallow and fish oil, are given. A version of the equivalent carbon number concept, utilizing the Snyder polarity index, was used to identity the molecular species.     

The fields due to a small loaded loop in free space

A theoretical analysis of a resistively loaded, electrically small loop is presented which shows the variations of the transverse-wave impedance close to the loop as the resistive loading is altered. The theoretical results are compared with those obtained from a numerical simulation using Numerical Electromagnetics Code (NEC). Depending upon the loading, the loop exhibits electric (high wave impedance) or magnetic (low wave impedance) dipole properties, or intermediate wave impedances. These changes in wave impedance are closely related to variations in the far-field radiation pattern, and simulations are used to demonstrate this. Measured results are used to demonstrate that the variations predicted in wave impedance actually occur in practice. These results have bearing on the interpretation of emission measurements and on the design of circuits to minimize interference to other neighboring circuits     

Classification of colours presented against different coloured backgrounds

In complex colour-coded displays, similar colours may be presented against different colour backgrounds. Shifts in colour appearance as a function of surround colours could impair the accurate interpretation of information. Using a colour-naming task, a study was carried out to evaluate the appearance of chromaticities presented against different coloured backgrounds on a CRT. The results identified chromaticities that can be reliably named and those that are most susceptible to the effects of chromatic induction. Recommendations for decreasing the effect of chromatic induction are discussed.     

Constraints on accessing abstract source information: Instantiation of principles facilitates children's analogical transfer.

An abstract principle provided as source information alone often fails to enhance analogical transfer. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the circumstances under which an abstract statement promotes analogical problem solving in children. External instantiation (providing concrete examples, with similar or dissimilar surface features along with an abstract statement) and internal instantiation (encouraging learners to generate concrete examples of the abstract statement) were equally effective in facilitating transfer. Adding explicit causal relations in the source statements did not significantly enhance transfer. These results suggest that abstract information by itself is less accessible because it lacks superficial features similar to the target problem and lacks example-specific contextual information. Educational implications of the effects of external and internal instantiations are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

THE TAX EQUITY EFFECTS OF THE SUBSTITUTION OF MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC PROFITS FOR PROPERTY TAXES

Many municipalities own and operate the electric companies which service their population, or act as distributors of electricity which they purchase from privately owned electric companies. Municipalities will often sell electricity at a substantial profit which is credited to their General Fund and becomes a substitute for properly taxes. A case study of a Delaware municipality that follows this practice was examined to determine the impact of this practice on its local tax structure from the standpoint of tax equity. A sample of households provided data on income, property taxes, and electric usage. Profit from the sale of electricity was treated as an excise tax, and the relative burden of this tax on various income groups was compared to the relative burden of properly taxes to see which was more regressive. The study showed that the city should rely less on the electric excise tax and more on the property tax if it wished to improve the equity of its local tax structure. This case study suggests that municipalities which substitute electric profits for property taxes might improve the equity of their tax structure by amending this practice.     

4-ary FSK coherent optical communication system

Experimental verification of the sensitivity advantage of M-ary orthogonal signalling over binary signalling is reported. A 110 Mbits 4-ary FSK system using conventional Fabry-Perot lasers with a 7% IF linewidth to data-rate ratio has achieved a sensitivity of 37 detected photons per bit at a 10/sup -9/ bit error rate. This exceeds the performance possible using ideal binary orthogonal FSK with zero linewidth lasers.<>     

Microcellular direct-sequence spread-spectrum radio system usingN-path RAKE receiver

A microcellular local area network (LAN) for indoor communications is proposed using code-division multiple access (CDMA) and differential phase-shift keying (DPSK) for data modulation. The pseudonoise (PN) codes in the transmitters of the base station are mutually synchronized. For this purpose, sets of Gold code sequences having low cross correlation have been found by an exhaustive computer search. Together with wideband measurements of the indoor radio channel at 900 MHz, a five-path RAKE receiver was designed to combat fading effects and to process the time diversity by using multipath signal reception. Each receiver path is demodulated independently. Several methods of diversity combining of these paths have been investigated. Acquisition and tracking of the spreading code in the receiver are controlled by a digital signal processor (DSP). Experimental results of the CDMA system are presented, showing the behavior in a multipath environment     

OAM: an office analysis methodology

OAM is a functionally oriented office analysis methodology which provides guidance in preparing an office study, collecting information from office staff, and organizing and presenting the results. It is well suited to semi-structured offices and provides the appropriate level of detail for making decisions regarding the design and justification of a computerized office information system. An evaluation of OAM by several using organizations shows it to be an efficient, effective, teachable methodology. OAM was perceived by users to improve significantly the functionality of office information systems implemented after an OAM study by comparison with task oriented study methodologies.