Self-fulfilling effects of stigmatizing information on children's social interactions.

The stigmatizing effects of negative expectancies were examined in observations of interactions between children with and without a behavior problem. Ss were 68 pairs of unacquainted boys in Grades 3–6. In each dyad, a normal boy was either told that his partner had a behavior problem or given no expectancy; this expectancy manipulation was crossed with the partner's actual diagnostic status with respect to hyperactivity. The perceiver's expectancy that their partner had a behavior problem as well as the actual diagnostic status of the target adversely affected the boys' interactions. Behavioral data suggest how the expectancies were communicated to the target. The processes underlying interpersonal expectancy effects and the ways in which a childhood stigma can act as a self-fulfilling prophecy are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Modification of in-vitro digestibility and cell-wall composition of cocksfoot,ryegrass and timothy by imazethapyr

Recent studies have shown that the compound imazethapyr (5-ethyl-2-(4-isopropyl-4-methyl-5-oxo-2-imidazolin-2-yl)nicotinic acid) possesses growth regulatory activity and can be used to enhance nutritive value of grasses. However, little is known about possible effects of this material on fibre composition or potential fibre utilisation by ruminants. The objective of this research was to examine imazethapyr-treated cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L), ryegrass (Lolium perenne L × L multiflorum Lam), and timothy (Phleum pratense L) for possible treatment-induced changes in in-vitro digestibility and in concentrations of selected fibre constituents. Replicated field plots treated with imazethapyr at 0 (control) or 100 g ai ha^?1 during the vegetative (pre-elongation) stage of growth were harvested when controls were in the early stage of inflorescence emergence. Samples taken from treated plots 4 weeks post-treatment had higher in-vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD), lower neutral detergent fibre (NDF), lower acid detergent fibre (ADF), lower cellulose, lignin, and higher hemicellulose concentrations compared with controls. Imazethapyr treatment also reduced the concentration of p-coumaric acid in NDF, but had no effect on ferulic acid. The treatment effect on in-vitro NDF disappearance, however, was inconsistent among the grass species and was statistically non-significant (P = 0·10), implying that, under the conditions of this study, imazethapyr-related enhancements in IVDMD can be attributed primarily to a reduction in the amount of NDF and its associated constituents, as opposed to qualitative differences in NDF composition.     

Comparison of field correlations in multiply scattered quasi-monochromatic light

An experiment is described that directly compares the degradations, with the number of scattering mean free paths, of two field correlations that may be used to form gates for imaging techniques in scattered light: the correlation of the scattered wave with an unscattered reference wave and the correlation of two wave-vector components of the scattered wave itself. Results for 20-mum polymer spheres show that the latter correlation is consistently larger well into the multiple-scattering regime (up to 10 mean free paths) for wave-vector separations less than at least 50 mm(-1) and that the two correlations tend to merge in this scattering regime for larger wave-vector separations.     

Assessing risk communication effectiveness: perspectives of agency practitioners

A study conducted by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a US public health agency, evaluated ATSDR's risk communication process, specifically the roles and responsibilities, planning, implementation, and coordination of activities in response to illegal indoor spraying of methyl parathion, a hazardous pesticide, in Pascagoula, MS. Interviews of staff members involved in the intervention were conducted and an analysis revealed strengths and areas in need of improvement in the design and implementation of risk communication strategies. Key recommendations included developing a clear strategy for planning and conducting communication activities; determining staff roles and responsibilities for coordination; and developing clear and consistent health messages, a dissemination strategy, and training in the delivery and evaluation of messages, effects, and outcomes.     

Alienation and exploratory behavior.

Tested the hypothesis that attitudes of alienation inhibit intrinsically motivated exploration of an unfamiliar but ordinary environment. 29 university students completed measures including the Alienation Test and the Maudsley Personality Inventory, and their exploratory behavior was observed during a mock waiting period. Stepwise multiple regression confirmed the hypothesis. Additional analyses indicate that nihilism and adventurousness were the most inhibitory types of alienation. The most inhibitory interpersonal contexts were alienation from social institutions, other persons, and the self. The adaptive disadvantage of alienation attitudes is noted. (42 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Spoilage of coconut oil purification and properties of a fungal lipase that attacks coconut oil

A lipase was isolated from a strain ofAspergillus flavus which attacked coconut kernel and oil with the liberation of free fatty acids. The enzyme was purified 109-fold by ammonium sulphate precipitation, diethyl aminoethyl-cellulose and Sephadex G-200 chromatography. The optimum pH of the enzyme reaction was 6.2. The action of the enzyme on pure triglycerides was studied. The triglycerides of the shorter chain fatty acids were more rapidly hydrolyzed, while hydrolysis of tristearin was not detected under the conditions of assay. K _m for trilaurin and trimyristin were 9.09×10⁻⁴ and 1.42×10⁻³ M, respectively. Para-chloromercuricbenzoate was an inhibitor. Thin layer chromatography and gas liquid chromatography of the esterified products of enzymatic hydrolysis of coconut oil showed the presence of oleate, palmitate, myristate, laurate, caprate, caproate and caprylate but not stearate, although stearate was present in coconut oil.     

Balancing carbohydrates and proteins for optimum rumen microbial yield.

Establishing conditions under which rumen fermentation will be optimized requires an understanding of the nutrient requirements of the mixed microbial population. The major nutrients required by rumen microbes are carbohydrates and proteins, but the most suitable sources and quantities needed to support maximum growth have not been determined. Digestion of proteins results in the production of peptides, which can accumulate in the rumen. Peptides are further hydrolyzed to amino acids, some of which are deaminated, producing ammonia. Although peptides, amino acids, and ammonia all may individually serve as sources of N for various microbes, the total population achieves the highest growth rate on mixtures of all three sources. In a somewhat analogous manner, carbohydrates are digested by exoenzymes to oligosaccharides that are available for crossfeeding by the mixed microbial population. Based on data from both in vitro and in vivo studies, there is general agreement that rate of digestion of carbohydrates is the major factor controlling the energy available for microbial growth; in addition, rate of digestion of total carbohydrate is directly related to proportion of starches, pectins, and sugars. Proteins affect both total fermentation and production of microbial DM per unit of carbohydrate fermented. It appears that the quantity of ruminally available protein needed to optimize microbial growth may, under some conditions, be as high as 14 to 15% of diet DM.     

An autoanalyzer method for determining hexachlorophene in soap

An AutoAnalyzer method has been developed for determining hexachlorophene in soap. The free phenol group is condensed with 4-amino-antipyrine, and after oxidizing with alkaline potassium ferricyanide, the resulting quinonetype dye is colorimetrically measured at 480 mμ. Internal standards are employed having known amounts of hexachlorophene. The method is applicable to the range that would be expected in a germicide soap, i.e. from 0–2%. The overall precision was found to be ±0.022% (95% confidence limits) at the 1.00% level of hexachlorophene in soap. The presence of other germicide types such as for example, carbanilides or salicylanilides, should not interfere with the determination. This routinized method should prove useful in operations where numerous repetitive measurements are made.     

Investigation of ultrafast time gating by spatial filtering

With a spatial-filtering method of gating, we explore image formation through scattering media using first-arriving light. Gating times of a few femtoseconds and less are produced, and the resolution at these extremely short gating times is investigated.