To predict some of the people some of the time: A reexamination of the moderator variable approach in personality theory.

Bem and Allen (1974) proposed but did not test the notion that trait relevance moderates cross-situational behavior consistency, but did obtain support, albeit weaker than is generally recognized, for a moderator effect of self-reported consistency. Kenrick and Stringfield (1980) showed that self-reported observability of behavior may also moderate self–peer consistency, but replication attempts were not entirely successful. Our investigation produced significant moderator effects on self–peer correlations for trait relevance, consistency, and observability when each of these variables was analyzed alone; we also obtained significant moderator effects for trait relevance and self-reported consistency (but not for observability) when all the variables were included in the same regression analysis. There was significant support for the prediction that the moderators combine additively: Self–peer correlations increased linearly as a function of the number of contributing moderator effects. There was even stronger support for the prediction that the moderators combined in an all-or-nothing manner: Self–peer correlations were high when the level of all three moderators was high, and low when the level of one or more of the three moderators was low. Our future research recommendation? Identify the optimal moderators and the manner in which they can be combined. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of lysoplatelet-activating factor on human sperm fertilizing ability

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the penetration rates in the hamster zona-free oocyte sperm penetration assay (SPA) after exposure of spermatozoa to lysoplatelet-activating factor (LPAF) and lysophosphatidyl choline (LPC). DESIGN: Washed human spermatozoa were exposed to 100 microM of LPAF or LPC, followed by the assessment of their fertilizing ability using the SPA. The percentage of penetration, the sperm binding in the SPA, the percentage of motile spermatozoa, and the acrosome reaction rates were quantified. SETTING: Private research and university laboratories. PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS: Fresh and frozen semen samples from fertile donors with proven fertility were used as well as fresh semen from infertile patients attending a fertility clinic. All the infertile patients had abnormal semen analysis. INTERVENTIONS: Human spermatozoa were incubated for 90 minutes in the presence or absence of LPAF or LPC at 100 microM with 0.3% albumin in Ham's F-10 (GIBCO, Dorval, Quebec, Canada), and their fertilizing ability was evaluated using the SPA. The effect of these lysophospholipids on the percentage of acrosome reaction was evaluated with a fluorescent microscopy technique. RESULTS: The penetration rates of the SPA in male factor increased significantly from 3% +/- 6% with controls to 19% +/- 9% and 34% +/- 22% after incubation with LPC and LPAF, respectively. Sperm-oocyte binding was not significantly increased in this group. Sperm penetration assay penetration rates were also increased in fertile cryopreserved spermatozoa with LPC and LPAF. In this group, the acrosome reaction was significantly increased from 2% +/- 1% in controls to 10% +/- 6% and 8% +/- 3% after incubation with LPC and LPAF, respectively. CONCLUSION: Lysoplatelet-activating factor and LPC independently increased the penetration rate of spermatozoa and the percentage of acrosome reaction. Lysophosphatidylcholine and LPAF may be beneficial in the treatment of spermatozoa with male factor infertility and may increase fertilization rates in IVF.     

To dispel fantasies about the fantasy-based measure of fear of success.

A review of M. Horner's (1968) study and subsequent research using the fantasy-based measure of fear of success suggested the following conclusions: Horner's results do not support the hypothesis that high-fear-of-success females perform poorly under competitive conditions; there are no reliable age or sex differences in motivation to avoid success; fear of success and sex role orientation appear to be unrelated; it is not clear whether the fear-of-success measure taps a motive or taps cultural stereotypes; there are no consistent relationships between fear of success and achievement-related variables; the reliability of the fear-of-success measure is low (probably in the .30-.40 range); and there are no consistent relationships between fear of success and any behavioral measures. It is suggested that future research will have to use new measures of fear of success. 3 such measures and preliminary findings are presented. (43 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Determinants of consensus estimates: Attribution, salience, and representativeness.

Five experiments examined the effects of attribution, salience, and representativeness of a target person's behavior on consensus bias—the tendency to generalize from the target's behavior to the behavior of the group. Ss were 762 undergraduates. Exp I showed that actors and observers induced to make a situational attribution for a behavior perceived this behavior as more common than did those induced to make a dispositional attribution. Exps II and III showed that observers perceived salient behavior as more common in the group than nonsalient behavior. Exps IV and V showed that observers were more likely to generalize from the behavior of a representative target than from the behavior of a nonrepresentative target. It is concluded that attributes of the target's behavior exercise strong influence on consensus estimates. (29 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A simplified theory of the optogalvanic effect

We present a simple phenomenological theory of the optogalvanic effect based on the multiplication of an electron within the plasma. The dependence of the signal on current and pressure and its temporal behavior are predicted for atoms irradiated by chopped CW lasers and pulsed lasers. Experimental data obtained by pulsed lasers are presented and interpreted.     

Antecedents of self-esteem in deaf people: A meta-analytic review.

Presents a meta-analysis of 42 empirical studies that assessed the effect of 6 constructs on self-esteem (SE): hearing status, parents' hearing status, type of school attended, communication mode used at home and in school, and group identification. Differences in SE between deaf and hearing people varied based on the SE measure and its format, and the communication mode in which tests were administered. People whose parents were deaf compared favorably to those whose parents were hearing, as did people whose parents used sign language at home compared to those who used oral communication. School setting and classroom communication were unrelated to SE. Finally, group identification was positively related to SE. Recommendations for guiding hearing parents in fostering SE in their deaf children are provided. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A comment on Notarius, Wemple, Ingraham, Burns, and Kollar's study of emotional responses to an interpersonal stressor.

Discusses several methodological, statistical, and interpretative problems in a study of interpersonal stress, facial expressivity, and physiological reactivity conducted by C. I. Notarius et al (see record 1983-05644-001). (2 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Actions and occurrences in Kelley's cube.

Examined the effects of 3 factors on the attribution process: (a) Ss made attributions for behaviors that were either completely voluntary (actions) or not completely voluntary (occurrences). (b) The behaviors were either accompanied (experimental condition) or not (control condition) by consensus, distinctiveness, and consistency information. (c) Consensus, distinctiveness, and consistency were presented in 1 of 3 orders, with each information variable varied over 2 (high/low) conditions. 252 undergraduates served as Ss. In the control condition only, actions were more often attributed to specific factors, whereas occurrences were more often attributed to a combination of factors. Consensus had more impact on attributions for occurrences than on attributions for actions. A recency effect in the use of consensus was found for attributions of occurrences but not for attributions of actions. Finally, highly consistent actions were more likely to be endogenously attributed. The range of behaviors to which different attribution models may be applied is discussed. (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and relaxation spectrum analysis as methods to investigate swelling in whey protein gels

Effective means for controlled delivery of nutrients and nutraceuticals are needed. Whey protein-based gels, as a model system and as a potential delivery system, exhibit pH-dependent swelling when placed in aqueous solutions. Understanding the physics that govern gel swelling is thus important when designing gel-based delivery platforms. The extent of swelling over time was monitored gravimetrically. In addition to gravimetric measurements, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) a real-time noninvasive imaging technique that quantified changes in geometry and water content of these gels was utilized. Heat-set whey protein gels were prepared at pH 7 and swelling was monitored in aqueous solutions with pH values of 2.5, 7, and 10. Changes in dimension over time, as characterized by the number of voxels in an image, were correlated to gravimetric measurements. Excellent correlations between mass uptake and volume change (R(2)= 0.99) were obtained for the gels in aqueous solutions at pH 7 and 10, but not for gels in the aqueous solution at pH 2.5. To provide insight into the mechanisms for water uptake, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation times were measured in independent experiments. The relaxation spectrum for the spin-spin relaxation time (T(2)) showed the presence of 3 proton pools for pH 7 and 10 trials and 4 proton pools for pH 2.5 trials. Results demonstrate that MRI and NMR relaxation measurements provided information about swelling in whey protein gels that can constitute a new means for investigating and developing effective delivery systems for foods.