Work and nonwork outcomes of workplace incivility: Does family support help?

This study extended incivility research beyond the confines of the workplace by exploring the relationships between incivility, work-to-family conflict and family support. Data collected from 180 employees from various organizations in Singapore showed that incivility is not a rare phenomenon in Asian cultures. Employees experienced more incivility from superiors than coworkers or subordinates, and these experiences were related to different outcomes. Coworker-initiated incivility was associated with decreased coworker satisfaction, increased perceptions of unfair treatment, and increased depression. On the other hand, superior-initiated incivility was associated with decreased supervisor satisfaction and increased work-to-family conflict. Results also revealed that employees with high family support showed stronger relationships between workplace incivility and negative outcomes, compared with employees with low family support. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Lead content of dried films of domestic paints currently sold in Nigeria

Children are at higher risk from lead exposure because their developing neural system is susceptible to its neurotoxic effects. We studied lead levels of paints manufactured in Nigeria in 2006. Lead levels in 5 colors of paints, each from different manufacturers were measured using flame-atomic absorption spectroscopy. We found that 96% of the paints had higher than recommended levels of lead. The mean lead level of paints ranged from 84.8 to 50,000 ppm, with mean of 14,500 ppm and median of 15,800 ppm. The main determinant of lead levels was color of the paint. As lead levels in paint sold in the past years in Nigeria are likely to be at least as high as that currently sold, it is likely that many existing houses contain dangerously high levels of lead. Efforts need to be undertaken to assess the presence of high lead levels in existing housing and if detected, intervention programs for eliminating risk of exposure should be developed in addition to measures to increase awareness and enforce regulations leading to the elimination of lead based domestic paint.     

“How green are electric vehicles?”

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are often labeled “green”, implying that they will significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. But actual GHG reductions will depend on two factors: the number of electric vehicles that can be sold to Americans that are fond of driving large vehicles long distances, and the GHGs emitted by the electrical power plants that charge the EV batteries. This article evaluates the maximum potential of EVs to cut GHG emissions and oil consumption in the U.S. and compares them with the GHG and oil reduction potential of hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicles. Even if all US light duty vehicles (LDVs) (cars and trucks) were replaced by a combination of battery EVs for small vehicles and plug-in hybrids for all other LDVs, then GHGs could at most be reduced by 25% and oil consumption could be reduced by less than 67%. But if all LDVs in the U.S. were replaced by fuel cell electric vehicles powered by hydrogen made from natural gas, then GHGs would be immediately reduced by 44% and oil consumption by nearly 100%.     

Longitudinal predictors of word reading development.

The authors review the scientific evidence regarding the prediction of reading development from six cognitive constructs: phonological awareness, phonological decoding, naming speed, orthographic processing, morphological awareness, and vocabulary. The authors describe the theoretical connexions amongst these indicators and word reading. The authors conclude that there is substantial evidence of each contributing to reading, and in most cases, this contribution is above and beyond that of the other predictor constructs. These findings have implications for early and regular cognitive assessment, and for curriculum development and teacher education. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

A Privileged and Exemplar Resource: Traumatic Avoidance Learning and the Early Triumph of Mathematical Psychology.

The relationship between a classic 1953 study by R. L. Solomon and L. C. Wynne on traumatic avoidance learning and the pioneering efforts by Robert Bush and Frederick Mosteller and others to develop mathematical models of learning is analyzed. The main purpose is to explore how Bush and Mosteller disembedded a carefully selected set of Solomon and Wynne's data from its original context, which allowed something as seemingly humble as a set of numbers to become a widely available and valuable resource for the newly emerging field of mathematical learning theory (MLT). The creative use that the MLT community made of these data once Bush and Mosteller had systematically reduced the empirical and conceptual uncertainties within Solomon and Wynne's study is also discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Universal session-level change processes in an early session of psychotherapy: Path models.

The authors used structural equation modeling to investigate universal change processes identified in the generic model of psychotherapy (GMP). Three path models of increasing complexity were examined in Study 1 in dynamic therapy. The best fitting model from Study 1 was replicated in Study 2 for participants receiving either cognitive or interpersonal therapy. Findings provided support for the universality of the GMP constructs in different types of therapy. Positive influences for therapeutic bond, openness, and realizations were observed, as was a surprising negative impact for one aspect of bond. Discussion highlights a complex conception of the therapy relationship that underscores the importance of investigating the multiple functions that the therapy relationship might serve in different psychotherapies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Towards a better understanding of the relationship between the β-carotene in vitro bio-accessibility and pectin structural changes: A case study on carrots

The quality of fruit and vegetables based products is affected by processing. Two important parameters to consider are the structural characteristics and the nutritional value. As pectin is a major constituent of plant cell walls, pectin structure engineering can be used as a tool to affect the structural quality of plant based food products. During thermal processing, pectin characteristics are influenced. Recently, it has been highlighted that nutrient bio-accessibility is affected by food structure. The intracellular localization of nutrients implies that their accessibility can be hindered by several structural elements.Therefore, this investigation focused on the relation between the structural quality and the nutritional value of carrots. Texture was measured as an indication for the structural quality, while the β-carotene in vitro bio-accessibility was selected as a parameter reflecting the nutritional value. The effect of thermal (pre)processing on this relationship was investigated. The results clearly indicate that the structural quality of carrots and the β-carotene in vitro bio-accessibility are inversely correlated. Moreover, it was hypothesized that pectin changes during thermal processing play a key role in this inverse relationship.     

Predicting workplace aggression: A meta-analysis.

The authors conducted a meta-analysis of 57 empirical studies (59 samples) concerning enacted workplace aggression to answer 3 research questions. First, what are the individual and situational predictors of interpersonal and organizational aggression? Second, within interpersonal aggression, are there different predictors of supervisor- and coworker-targeted aggression? Third, what are the relative contributions of individual (i.e., trait anger, negative affectivity, and biological sex) and situational (i.e., injustice, job dissatisfaction, interpersonal conflict, situational constraints, and poor leadership) factors in explaining interpersonal and organizational aggression? Results show that both individual and situational factors predict aggression and that the pattern of predictors is target specific. Implications for future research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)