Convergent and discriminant validity for areas and methods of rating job satisfaction.

A study to determine the convergent and discriminant validity of 4 rating methods and 5 areas of job satisfaction. Measures were administered to 133 randomly selected employees from 2 companies. A rating method employing a series of 6 faces ranging from a scowl to a smile and a direct graphic rating method were best according to the criteria of convergent and discriminant validity. All areas adequately satisfied both criteria, but the pay, promotions, and supervision areas showed somewhat greater discriminant validity than the work and people areas. The greater appropriateness of the convergent and discriminant criteria, as compared to other possible criteria, for demonstrating the validity of areas and measures of job satisfaction is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Residual activity of oviposition-deterring pheromone inRhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae) and female response to infested fruit

Under dry conditions, oviposition-deterring pheromone (ODP) of the apple maggot fly (Rhagoletis pomonella Walsh) on host fruit proved deterrent to ovipositing females for at least three weeks, with a half-life of ca. 11 days. There was no difference in decline of residual activity under lab vs. field conditions or between fly-deposited ODP vs. an application of a water extract of ODP. A decline in pheromone activity resulted from exposure to both natural and simulated rainfall. For natural rainfall, greatest losses (50– 61%) in activity resulted from high-intensity rains, with substantially less activity lost (13–35%) following light or moderate intensity rains.R. pomonella females discriminated against fruit without ODP but with conspecific larvae. Discrimination against infested fruit was manifested within fewer days following infestation of small fruit (9 mm diam.) as compared to larger fruit (15 mm diam.).     

Regulation of the metabolism of linoleic acid to arachidonic acid in rat hepatocytes

When 5×10⁶ hepatocytes were incubated for 40 min with from 0.15 to 0.60 mM [1-¹⁴C]linoleic acid, [1-¹⁴C]6,9,12-octadecatrienoic acid, or [1-¹⁴C]8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid, there was a concentration-dependent acylation of radioactive metabolites into both triglycerides and phospholipids. When the concentration of either [1-¹⁴C]linoleic acid or [1-¹⁴C]8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid exceeded 0.3 mM, there was no further increase in the metabolism of either fatty acid to other (n−6) metabolites. When the concentration of [1-¹⁴C]6,9,12-octadecatrienoic acid exceeded 0.15 mM, there was an apparent substrate-induced inhibition in its metabolism to 8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid. With all three substrates (0.3 mM), there was time-dependent metabolism to other (n−6) acids. Cells then were incubated simultaneously with 0.3 mM [1-¹⁴C]linoleic acid along with 0.15 to 0.45 mM 6,9,12-octadecatrienoic acid or 8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid. These exogenous nonradioactive (n−6) acids suppressed but did not abolish the conversion of [1-¹⁴C]linoleate to radioactive arachidonate. These findings suggest that some linoleate is converted to arachidonate without intracellular mixing of 6,8,12-octadecatrienoic or 8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acids. This hypothesis is supported by the finding that exogenous linoleate did not markedly affect the metabolism of [1-¹⁴C]6,9,12-octadecatrienoic or [1-¹⁴C]8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid by microsomal chain elongating or desaturating enzymes.     

Use of a fluorescent radiolabeled triacylglycerol as a substrate for lipoprotein lipase and hepatic triglyceride lipase

A fluorescent radiolabeled triacylglycerol has been synthesized by using a fluorescent fatty acid (pyrene decanoic acid) and a radiolabeled oleic acid. This analog of the natural substrate, 1(3)pyrene decanoic-2,3(1,2)-dioleoyl-sn-glycerol, has been tested as substrate for determining lipoprotein lipase and hepatic triacylglycerol lipase activities in post-heparin plasma. Optimal conditions for the determination of the two post-heparin plasma lipases were similar to those using radiolabeled triolein. Using this substrate, both post-heparin lipases exhibited their characteristic properties (pH optimum and effect of inhibitors) and attacked external ester bonds (1 or 3) containing pyrene decanoic and oleic acids at a similar rate     

De-escalation of commitment in oil exploration: When sunk costs and negative feedback coincide.

Three experiments were conducted to examine the combined effects of sunk costs and negative feedback on decisions to escalate or withdraw from a petroleum-exploration venture. In Exps 1 and 2, petroleum geologists responded to scenarios in which from 1 to 4 dry wells had been drilled. Number of dry wells was manipulated both between Ss (Exp 1) and within Ss (Exp 2). Contrary to earlier research, the higher the sunk cost (i.e., the greater the number of dry wells), the less likely geologists were to authorize funds to continue with the venture and the lower their estimates were of the likelihood that the next well would be productive. In Exp 3, university students responded to our oil-drilling scenarios. Results of this experiment were in the same direction as that found with the geologists but were considerably weaker and were not statistically significant. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Adherence-health status relationships in childhood diabetes.

Examined the relationship between adherence (ADH) behavior (to a diabetes regimen) and health status in 78 6–19 yr olds with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. 13 ADH measures were grouped into 6 ADH factors (Injection, Exercise, Diet Type, Testing/Eating Frequency, Calories Consumed, and Concentrated Sweets). Prevailing glucose levels were indexed, and fasting triglycerides (TRIG) and total cholesterol (CHOL) assays were used to estimate lipid metabolism. Adolescents were generally less adherent than younger Ss. Only Calories Consumed showed any predictive power. No significant regression equations emerged for CHOL. In contrast, TRIG was significantly associated with most ADH factors; in all cases, ADH interacted with the Ss' metabolic status, suggesting that ADH had different effects for Ss in good vs poor diabetes control. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"The specialty of neuropsychology": Errata.

Reports an error in "The specialty of neuropsychology" by Anne L. Hess and Robert P. Hart (Neuropsychology, 1990[Jan], Vol 4[1], 49-52). This article does not represent an attempt by the Division 40 Committee on Professional Affairs to define the specialty of clinical neuropsychology, and was not prepared at the request of the Division 40 Committee on Professional Affairs of the American Psychological Association. The publisher extends its apologies for any confusion this may have caused. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 1991-13156-001.) Presents an attempt by the Division 40 Committee on Professional Affairs of the American Psychological Association to define the specialty of clinical neuropsychology. The specialty should be defined for psychologists and consumers of psychological services (e.g., government agencies, insurance companies) so that all concerned can have a clearer sense of expectations of qualifications and standards of practice for this field. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Influence of the Window Thermal Diffusivity on the Silicon Wafer Temperature in a Rapid Thermal System

The heating of a silicon wafer in a rapid thermal process is studied by numerical simulation. In the model, the equations of conservation of mass and energy are solved with the finite-volume method and the determination of the solutions of the radiative transfer equation is based on the Monte-Carlo method. The results of numerical simulations, without optimization and in steady state, show a close relationship between the thermal profiles of the silicon wafer and the ones of the quartz window. By introducing a high thermal diffusivity value for the window, the homogeneity of the wafer temperature is improved by 54%. The effect of heat storage by the quartz window on the temperature profile of the silicon substrate is hence well appreciated. Finally, a selection of materials is proposed for the implementation of the high diffusivity infrared window.     

Storage affects the phenolic profiles and antioxidant activities of cherries (Prunus avium L) on human low‐density lipoproteins

Four sweet cherry cultivars (cvs), Burlat, Saco, Summit and Van, were analysed at harvest and after storage at 2 and 15 °C for 30 and 6 days respectively. Phenolic profiles in methanolic extracts of freeze‐dried samples of the fresh and differently stored cherries were quantified by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Hydroxycinnamates dominated in all samples and represented 60–74% by weight of the phenols in the fresh and stored samples of the cvs Saco, Summit and Van, and 45% by weight of the phenols in the cv Burlat samples, which were richer in anthocyanins. The relative and total levels of hydroxycinnamates, anthocyanins, flavonols and flavan‐3‐ols varied among cultivars and during storage. Storage at 15 °C increased the phenol levels, particularly the cyanidin‐3‐rutinoside concentration. Cold storage induced decreased total phenol levels in the cvs Summit and Van but increased total phenol levels in the cvs Burlat and Saco. Phenolic cherry extracts inhibited low‐density lipoprotein oxidation in vitro in a dose‐dependent manner. Extracts of freshly harvested cherries exhibited significantly higher antioxidant activities than extracts of stored samples. The cv Summit samples had the highest antioxidant activity. Differences in the antioxidant effects of the cherry samples were positively correlated with their levels of p‐coumaroylquinic acid (p < 0.1) but negatively correlated with their cyanidin‐3‐rutinoside levels (p < 0.05). Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry