Life-span differences in memory integration as a function of processing time.

K. Pezdek (see record 1981-03016-001) reported life-span differences in integration of semantically related pictures and sentences in memory; 6th-grade and high school Ss spontaneously integrated information across modalities, but 3rd graders and adults over 65 did not integrate this information. The present study extends these findings and tests the hypothesis that the 8-sec presentation rate in the previous study was not sufficient to allow the young children and older adults to perform integration processes in memory. Although 3rd graders and older adults (63–78 yrs) did not integrate pictures and sentences that were presented individually at an 8-sec rate, when the presentation rate was increased to 15 sec per item, cross-modality integration resulted. This result is interpreted to mean that the slower presentation rate was necessary for these Ss to actively rehearse different items together, and that this rehearsal strategy is necessary for integration of information in memory. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

LIGAND ASSISTED DESULFURIZATION OF LIGNITE USING THE PERCHLOROETHYLENE COAL REFINING PROCESS

The perchloroethylene coal refining process was used on North Dakota lignite coal. Effects of extraction time, perchloroethylenexoal ratio and artificial weathering were studied to determine their effects on the removal of organic sulfur. The artificial weathering conditions used were found to be too harsh and caused a decrease in the amount of organic sulfur removed, unlike normal weathering conditions. Additional studies were done involving various ligands, and showed that the addition of certain ligands during the process aided in the extraction of organic sulfur from the coal.     

Perceptions of serendipity: Career paths of prominent academic women in counseling psychology.

Consensual qualitative research was used to investigate the impact of chance events on the career choices of prominent academic women in counseling psychology and to examine the contextual factors surrounding the chance events. The results suggest that chance events affected career choices most often by changing women's career paths altogether or by altering their self-concepts. The results also suggest that both internal characteristics (e.g., ability to take risks, self-confidence, etc.) and external factors (e.g., a strong support system, few external barriers, etc.) helped women take advantage of chance opportunities. The implications of integrating the concept of serendipity into our existing understanding of career development is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A variational inequality approach for marketable pollution permits

In this paper, we present a variational inequality framework for the modeling, qualitative analysis, and computation of equilibria in markets in pollution permits. The models developed herein allow for different modes of competitive behavior, including oligopolistic behavior, while taking into account the cost of polluting plus the prices of the licenses to pollute at different receptor points. The models deal explicitly with spatial differentiation and also ensure that the imposed environmental quality standards are met through the initial allocation of licenses. An algorithm is proposed, along with convergence results, to compute the profit-maximized quantities of the firms' products and quantities of emissions, as well as the equilibrium allocation of licenses and their prices. Numerical examples are included to illustrate the approach. This is the first time that this methodology is utilized in environmental economics.     

AIDS, hemophilia, and prevention efforts within a comprehensive care program.

Approximately 92% of persons with severe hemophilia A in the United States have been exposed to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the cause of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), from contaminated blood products. This article describes HIV prevention efforts initiated by the federally funded comprehensive hemophilia program. Comprehensive care centers are useful for the delivery and evaluation of educational and preventative efforts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Brief treatment for young substance abusers: A pilot study in an addiction treatment setting.

The present study evaluated a motivationally based, 4-session outpatient intervention for young substance abusers presenting for addiction treatment. Follow-up interviews were conducted 6 months after assessment on (a) clients who sought additional help (n = 22) and (b) clients who did not seek additional help (n = 28). Results indicated that (a) participating in an assessment and brief intervention was associated with reduced use and consequences and increased confidence in high-risk situations up to 6 months after entry into the program, and (b) clients who participated in additional treatment showed less of a decrease in substance-related consequences. These findings suggest that brief interventions can serve as either a stand-alone intervention for individuals who need short-term assistance or a first-step intervention for those with more specialized or long-term needs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Website design: place for luxury brands in cyberspace?

A great challenge for luxury marketers is how to harness Internet’s incredible influence on customers while still maintaining and adhering to the customer-based brand equity (CBE) of luxury brands. This study aims to investigate the effect of website design on the CBE of luxury brands. Integrating the research on aesthetic design and luxury branding, we develop and empirically validate a research model, specifying that two aesthetic design dimensions (aesthetic formality and aesthetic appeal) can stimulate a strong sense of luxury, which in turn leads to a positive evaluation of CBE. Furthermore, the effect of aesthetic design on the sense of luxury is contingent upon brand familiarity prior to the exposure of a luxury brand website. The research model is validated with a survey study involving 201 participants. The paper includes implications for website design to deliver online brand experience and develop CBE with specific online consumer groups. As an early attempt to examine the website design effect on online branding experience and brand equity, this study contributes to both literature of website aesthetics and online luxury branding.     

Infants' early ability to segment the conversational speech signal predicts later language development: A retrospective analysis.

Two studies examined relationships between infants' early speech processing performance and later language and cognitive outcomes. Study 1 found that performance on speech segmentation tasks before 12 months of age related to expressive vocabulary at 24 months. However, performance on other tasks was not related to 2-year vocabulary. Study 2 assessed linguistic and cognitive skills at 4-6 years of age for children who had participated in segmentation studies as infants. Children who had been able to segment words from fluent speech scored higher on language measures, but not general IQ, as preschoolers. Results suggest that speech segmentation ability is an important prerequisite for successful language development, and they offer potential for developing measures to detect language impairment at an earlier age. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)