Reading rate, readability, and variations in task-induced processing.

Tested the hypothesis that task variables account for previous findings that reading rate is unaffected by readability. In a study with 68 high school students, variations in a reading task were used to induce different processes during reading. When the S had to inspect a text to remember enough for a subsequent word match, easy texts were read faster than difficult texts. When word matching was attempted as the S read, easy texts were read no faster than difficult texts. Findings suggest that when appropriate reading tasks are chosen, reading rate can be used to infer underlying processes in reading. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Developing a Code of Fair Testing Practices in Education.

The Joint Committee on Testing Practices (JCTP) is a coordinating body that attempts to bring together test publishers and professional organizations concerned with testing in an effort to advance, in the public interest, the quality of testing practices. The JCTP was formed in 1984 by the American Psychological Association, the American Educational Research Association, and the National Council on Measurement in Education. Last fall, the JCTP completed a three-year effort to develop a Code of Fair Testing Practices in Education. In this article, we briefly discuss the evolution of the JCTP, the development and dissemination of the Code, and the American Psychological Association's involvement in improving testing practices. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Neutral lipid transfer protein does not regulate α-tocopherol transfer between human plasma lipoproteins

Vitamin E has no known plasma carrier protein and is transported by plasma lipoproteins. The site of association of vitamin E in the lipoprotein particle and the mode of transfer of vitamin E between plasma lipoproteins have not been ascertained. Since neutral lipids (triglycerides and cholesterol esters) exchange between plasma lipoproteins by processes mediated by neutral lipid transfer protein, we questioned that if vitamin E, a hydrophobic molecule, is carried in the core of the lipoprotein particle then its transfer between plasma lipoproteins may be mediated by neutral lipid transfer protein. Transfer of D-α(5-methyl-³H)tocopherol from in vitro-labeled human plasma lipoprotein fractions to other plasma lipoproteins was measured under incubation conditions that were designed to yield markedly differing degrees of neutral lipid exchange. Despite the presence of the d>1.21 g/ml lipoprotein-poor plasma fraction or purified lipid transfer protein that resulted in up to a 10-fold increase in neutral lipid transfer, vitamin E transfer between very low density lipoproteins, low density and high density lipoproteins remained constant. Even excess amounts of lipid transfer protein, which caused triglyceride transfer between very low density and high density lipoproteins to reach saturation, failed to affect significantly vitamin E transfer. Vitamin E distribution between lipoprotein fractions did correlate with lipoprotein mass ratios. Vitamin E transfer was higher as the protein ratio of acceptor lipoproteins to donor lipoproteins increased. We conclude that vitamin E transfer between lipoproteins is not dependent primarily on neutral lipid transfer protein and is not mediated via neutral lipid transfer.     

The Involvement of the Psychologist's Family in the Establishment of a Public Image of the Profession.

Psychologists of late have been turning increasing attention to the problem of defining their profession (Amer. Psychologist, 1958, 13, 645-652; 1959, 14, 523-524) and outlining a public image (see record 2005-08103-001). The present writer applauds these efforts from the midst of the semantic battlefield upon which the psychologist's family finds itself when communicating with the public. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

N- Vs. C- Tricyanovinylation of Ring-Substituted Dimethylanilines. The Spectral Properties of the Products.

Methods for changing the selectivity in the N- vs. C- tricyanovinylation are discussed. In acetonitrile, 2,3-, 2,4-, 3,4- and 3, 5-dimethylanilines are N-tricyanovinylated, 2,6-dimethyl- and 2, 6-diethylanilines are p-tricyanovinylated, and 2,5-dimethyl- and 2-ethylaniline give mixtures of N- and p-tricyanovinyl derivatives. The UV, IR, NMR and mass spectra of the products are discussed in relation to the position of the tricyanovinyl group and to electronic and steric effects.     

Effect of boiling and roasting on the fermentation of soybeans into dawadawa (soy-dawadawa)

Soybeans which had initially been dehulled by either boiling (boiled/dehulled) or roasting (roasted/dehulled) before peeling, were cooked and fermented into dawadawa, a traditional food condiment. The micropopulation, enzymatic activities, proximate composition, amino acid, and aroma profiles of the two types of soybean dawadawa were evaluated during fermentation. Only minor differences were found in the microbial profiles of the two types of soy-dawadawa. Although boiled/dehulled soy-dawadawa initially had lower microbial counts, it recorded higher counts at the advanced stages of fermentation. Proteolytic and amylolytic Bacillus species including Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus cereus, and Bacillus firmus dominated the micropopulation of the two types of soy-dawadawa with Bacillus subtilis accounting for about 50% of the Bacillus species in all samples. Lactic acid bacteria and yeasts occurred in low numbers in the two types of soy-dawadawa. The proximate composition of the two types of soy-dawadawa were similar, and their contents of moisture and protein increased whilst fat and ash decreased during fermentation. Both types of fermenting soy-dawadawa recorded similar levels of alpha-amylase activity, but boiled/dehulled soy-dawadawa showed slightly higher protease activity. The levels of isoleucine, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, arginine and proline increased significantly with fermentation time in both types of soy-dawadawa. With respect to differences in their aroma profiles, hexanodecanol, octadecyl acetate, 1,2-dimethyl benzene, tetradecene, (E)-5-eicosene, cyclohexadecane, and hexacosane were found only in the roasted/dehulled samples, whilst 1,2-ethanediol, ethyl acetate, dimethyl disulfide, cyclotetradecane, decene, indole , 2 butyl-octenal, acetophenone, and toluene were found only in the boiled/dehulled samples. A market focus group showed preference for roasted/dehulled soy-dawadawa over boiled/dehulled soy-dawadawa. Apart from the volatile aroma compounds, the biochemical and microbiological profiles of the two types of soy-dawadawa showed only minor differences and were also similar to the profiles reported for African locust bean dawadawa.     

Newborn stepping: An explanation for a "disappearing" reflex.

When held upright, newborns show well-coordinated walking movements that normally cannot be elicited after about 2 mo of age. In contrast, spontaneous kicking in the supine position increases in frequency during the 1st 6 mo of age. In the present study, 8 2-wk-old infants were observed with a combination of a videotaped recording and concurrent EMG of 4 muscle groups of the legs. In a single session, Ss were viewed first kicking, then stepping. Kinematic, EMG, and motivational data indicate that kicking and stepping are the same muscle synergisms. The disappearance of stepping may be a result of the biodynamic consequences of the upright posture due to asynchronous development of muscle mass and concomitant strength. It is shown how this hypothesis explains training effects on prolonging the stepping reflex. (42 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Was McGraw a maturationist?": Reply.

Replies to T. C. Dalton's (see record 83:33646) commentary concerned with the labeling of M. B. McGraw as a maturationist as raised in Thelen's (see record 1995-20907-001) study on infant/child motor skill development. The issues raised by Thelen did not depend on whether McGraw was labeled a maturationist; what was evident in McGraw's work was a real tension between her manifest maturational theory on the one hand and her writings expressing the richness of the developmental process on the other. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)