Anxiety and perceived causation in social success and failure experiences: Disconfirmation of an attribution hypothesis in two experiments.

Two experiments were designed to test hypotheses derived from an attribution model of psychopathology as applied to social anxiety. In the 2 studies with 64 male undergraduates each, Ss first interacted with a female confederate who behaved either warmly (success) or coldly (failure) toward them. All Ss then interacted with a 2nd confederate who behaved warmly. It was predicted that high social anxiety (Social Avoidance and Distress Scale) would be associated with the internal attribution of social failure and the external attribution of social success (Rotter's Internal–External Locus of Control Scale). By contrast, it was predicted that low social anxiety would be associated with the internal attribution of social success and the external attribution of social failure. In Exp I, patterns of attribution were manipulated in normal Ss, and the effects of the manipulations were examined with respect to their subsequent social anxiety. In Exp II, the attributional patterns of high and low socially anxious men were examined in success and failure situations. Neither study provided any support for the hypothesis relating attibutional patterns to social anxiety. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Photoresponsive effects in azo polymers

Photoresponsive effects associated with two photochromic polyamides [poly(3,3′-azo dibenzoyl-trans-2,5-dimethylpiperazene) (I) and poly(4,4′-azo dibenzoyl-trans-dimethylpiperazene) (II)] are reported. (i) Langmuir film balance measurements show a reduction in area/monomer unit on changing from dark to light conditions and this is interpreted as being the result of trans→cis isomerization. From detailed consideration of pressure-area curves for I and II, it is postulated that I exists as a helical structure whereas the structure of II is linear. (ii) I and II are also shown to exhibit a photoviscosity effect where the viscosity is reduced upon irradiation. This effect is discussed in terms of the postulated structures. (iii) The polymers also exhibit photomechanical properties. The photocontractile effect observed on switching off the radiation is attributed to incomplete isomerization of a fraction of the azo residues in locations within the polymer matrix.     

Identification and estimation of tocopherols by gas-liquid chromatography

A gas chromatographic method is described for the identification and estimation of the individual tocopherols as their trimethylsilyl (TMS) ethers. The TMS ethers are prepared by dissolving the sample in a mixture of hexamethyl-disilazane, trimethylchlorosilane, and anhydrous pyridine (2:1:10), and allowing it to stand for at least 15 min. The separations described were made at 235C on 0.08 in. I.D. ×15 ft silanized glass columns packed with either 0.5% Apiezon L or 2% SE-30 on 110/120 mesh Anakrom (acid and base washed, and silanized). Retention data, obtained either by chromatographing known compounds or by prediction using the Kováts Retention Indices, are presented for tocol, tocotrienol, and all 14 possible methylated tocols and tocotrienols. The quantitative results from the analyses of two standard mixtures are also presented. The application to naturally occurring tocopherols is illustrated by chromatograms of partially purified fractions from soy oil, wheat germ oil, whole wheat flour, and corn meal.     

The use of multiple imputation for the analysis of missing data.

This article provides a comprehensive review of multiple imputation (MI), a technique for analyzing data sets with missing values. Formally, MI is the process of replacing each missing data point with a set of m > 1 plausible values to generate m complete data sets. These complete data sets are then analyzed by standard statistical software, and the results combined, to give parameter estimates and standard errors that take into account the uncertainty due to the missing data values. This article introduces the idea behind MI, discusses the advantages of MI over existing techniques for addressing missing data, describes how to do MI for real problems, reviews the software available to implement MI, and discusses the results of a simulation study aimed at finding out how assumptions regarding the imputation model affect the parameter estimates provided by MI. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Initial studies of oxidation processes on filter surfaces and their impact on perceived air quality

Used filters can be a strong sensory pollutant source. Oxidation processes, especially those initiated by ozone, may contribute to the pollutants emitted from such filters. In the present study, ozone was added to the airstream passing through used ventilation filters. Two flow rates were examined. While the upstream ozone concentration was approximately 75 ppb, the concentrations downstream of the filter were initially 35-50% lower. However, within an hour downstream concentrations were only 5-10% lower than those upstream. These filter samples were then placed for 48 h in nitrogen, ambient air containing less than 5 ppb ozone, or ambient air at an elevated temperature. This resulted in partial regeneration of the ozone removal capability of the filter. In analogous experiments, lower ozone removal occurred when the filter samples were first ventilated for 24 h with ozone-free air before making the measurements. Samples from a new filter removed <10% of the ozone in the airstream, and removal remained relatively constant over time. In companion studies, human subjects assessed the air passing through various used filter samples. In the initial evaluation each of the four filter samples, taken from the same filter and ventilated for 24 h, were assessed to be equivalent. The next evaluation was immediately after the samples had been kept for 24 h in either nitrogen, air, air at an elevated temperature or ozone. The nitrogen-treated filter was assessed to be best, while the ozone-treated filter was assessed to be the worst. The final evaluation occurred after ambient air had passed through the 'treated' filters for 2 h. All such ventilated filters were assessed to be more acceptable than immediately after the 24-h treatments; the ozonized and air-treated filters were the most polluting of the four. Practical Implications The present paper supports previous findings that loaded ventilation filters can be significant sources of sensory pollution. Replacing a loaded filter with a new filter temporarily removes this source of pollution. However, the present study does not provide an answer to how frequently changes are needed under different conditions. The results indicate that in cases of intermittent operation of ventilation systems, the airflow through the polluted filters should be restarted in sufficient time prior to occupancy to purge odorous pollutants that have accumulated on the filter surface. Removal of ozone upstream of the particle filters may further improve perceived air quality in the space downstream of the filter bank. Future efforts related to the development and application of low-polluting filtration systems are warranted.     

Group climate development in cognitive and interpersonal group therapy for social phobia.

This study was designed as a longitudinal study of 80 participants in cognitive group therapy (RCT, n = 40) and interpersonal group therapy (RIPT, n = 40) for social phobia during 10 weeks of residential therapy. The aim was to investigate the patterns of group climate development and its impact on treatment outcome. Data were collected using MacKenzie's Group Climate Questionnaire (GCQ) 4 times during treatment, and a multilevel (mixed) model approach was used in the analyses. Engagement in RCT groups showed a linear increase during treatment in contrast to a linear decline among patients in RIPT groups. This divergence might be explained by the focus on extragroup and intragroup relationships in RCT and RIPT, respectively. Neither conflict nor avoidance followed the expected pattern, nor did their mean levels influence outcome. However, when 6 extreme values of conflict were removed, there was support for a low–high–low pattern of conflict. In general, these results do not support MacKenzie's generic model of group climate development but suggest that sample characteristics, treatment models, and setting can play major roles in determining the group climate. Of the group climate variables, only the mean level of engagement predicted a change in social anxiety over the course of treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

红庙岭生活垃圾填埋气体回收利用的CDM可行性研究

对国内几个已批准的填埋气体收集利用CDM项目，在比较分析的基础上，结合福州市红庙岭生活垃圾填埋场具体情况，对该场填埋气体回收利用的CDM可行性进行研究及效益评析。结果表明：只要尽快合理地开发该项目，不仅能大大减少填埋气体的排放量，同时也减排了因替代其它能源产生电能而带来的温室气体。因此，具有同类垃圾填埋场的城市也应通过国家相关部门积极申报填埋气体发电CDM项目。