Psychological influences on surgical recovery: Perspectives from psychoneuroimmunology.

Greater fear or distress prior to surgery is associated with a slower and more complicated postoperative recovery. Although anxiety presumably interferes with recuperation through both behavioral and physiological mechanisms, the pathways have been unclear. Recent work in psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) has demonstrated that stress delays wound healing. In addition, a second line of research has illustrated the adverse effects of pain on endocrine and immune function. A biobehavioral model is described that is based on these and other data; it suggests a number of routes through which psychological and behavioral responses can influence surgery and postsurgical outcomes. Clinical and research implications are highlighted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Predicting individual differences in complex skill acquisition: Dynamics of ability determinants.

Addresses the controvervesy about ability determinants of individual differences in performance during and subsequent to skill acquisition. An information-processing examination of ability–performance relations during complex task acquisition is described. Included are ability testing (including general, reasoning, spatial, perceptual speed, and perceptual/psychomotor abilities) and skill acquisition over practice on the terminal radar approach controller simulation. Results validate and extend P. L. Ackerman's (1988) theory of cognitive ability determinants of individual differences in skill acquisition. Benefits of ability component and task component analyses over global analyses of ability–skill relations are demonstrated. Implications are discussed for selection instruments to predict air traffic controller success and for other tasks with inconsistent information-processing demands. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Combined bioreaction and separation in centrifugal fields using zonal rotors

Combined biosynthesis and product separation has been successfully performed for the first time using a zonal centrifugal bioreactor–separator. The biosynthesis of dextran polymer from sucrose using the dextransucrase enzyme was investigated in order to evaluate bioreactor performance. The bioreactor consisted of a bowl, fitted with a Reorienting gradient rotor which facilitated substrate and enzyme loading and the reproducible unloading of solutions from the system. This allowed the distribution of substrate, enzyme and product materials in the bowl at the end of each trial to be accurately determined. Studies have indicated that combined bioreaction–separation is possible using this system. However, viscosity build-up in the bioreactor must be minimised in order to increase the yield of polymer product per unit time and improve product separation.     

The Economic Impact of Sports Stadium Construction: The Case of the Construction Industry in St. Louis,MO

This article examines the St. Louis construction industry’s employment with special attention given to the periods during which the Kiel Center and the Trans World Dome were being built. We analyze whether the construction of a major sports stadium increases construction industry employment. An econometric model is developed to explain the times series trend of construction industry employment in the St. Louis SMSA. The statistical evidence suggests that the levels of employment in the construction industry were neither higher nor lower during the construction of these stadia. It is argued that construction on these projects merely substituted for other construction projects in this SMSA.     

Segregation Isotherms at the Surfaces of Oxides

A non-Arrhenius segregation isotherm is derived which includes the change in the heat of segregation with surface coverage due to impurity—impurity interactions. It is shown that a linear dependence of log ( X_s ) on the reciprocal temperature, where X_s is the surface atomic ratio, can derive either from a constant heat of segregation, i.e., Arrhenius behavior, or from a heat of segregation that varies as X⁻¹_s . This isotherm is then used to calculate the equilibrium surface coverages of Ca at the {001} surface of MgO₁ Mg at the {0001} surface of α-Al₂O₃, γ at the {1012} and {1120} surfaces of α-Al₂O₃, and Na at the {111} and {110} surfaces of Li₂O from the calculated heats of segregation. Where possible, comparisons are made with experiment. The more useful operational definition of the heat of segregation, namely, that derived from the measured coverage or that defined atomistically and obtained by calculation, is discussed.     

Performance assessment of HCFC-22 window air conditioner retrofitted with R-407C

This paper presents the experimental performance analysis of a 1.5 TR window air-conditioner, retrofitted with R-407C, as a substitute to HCFC-22. Experimental results showed that R-407C, for the operating conditions covered in this study, had lower cooling capacity in the range 2.1–7.9% with respect to HCFC-22. The coefficient of performance for R-407C was lower in the range 7.9–13.5%. The power consumption of the unit with R-407C was higher in the range 6–7% than HCFC-22. The discharge pressures for R-407C were higher in the range 11–13% than HCFC-22.This paper also presents simulation results of heat exchangers of an HCFC-22 window air conditioner retrofitted with R-407C. The simulation has been carried out using EVAP-COND, a heat exchanger model developed by National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S.A. The simulated evaporator capacities are within ±3% of the experimentally measured cooling capacities for both refrigerants. Simulation results for R-407C and HCFC-22 are compared. The exit temperatures of R-407C are lower by 1.9 °C to 5.2 °C in the condenser and are higher by 3.2 °C to 3.8 °C in the evaporator than HCFC-22. Evaporating pressures of R-407C are higher by 4.5–5.3% as compared to HCFC-22. The pressure drops of R-407C are lower in both the evaporator and the condenser as compared to HCFC-22. The outlet temperatures of air for HCFC-22 and R-407C in both heat exchangers are nearly the same.