Decision makers' hindsight bias after receiving favorable and unfavorable feedback.

Two studies examined if decision makers show hindsight bias when feedback reflects upon their judgment. Study 1 investigated whether decision making heightens cognitive activity, and thereby reduces hindsight effects, or triggers self-serving mechanisms that prompt hindsight bias only when outcomes match favorably with decisions. Business students decided if they would purchase a company's stock, then received no feedback or feedback that the stock value increased or decreased. Consistent with a self-serving interpretation, relative to no-feedback participants, those whose outcomes matched favorably with their decisions showed hindsight bias and had a higher proportion of internal thoughts. In Study 2, favorable-feedback participants again showed hindsight bias, and had higher recall for decision-supportive items, but not when their tendency to take credit for success was suppressed. Discussion focuses on implications of decision makers' hindsight bias. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Energetic considerations for managing double-crested cormorants on Lake Champlain

We studied foraging distribution, activity budgets, fish consumption, and energetics of double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) at two breeding colonies on Lake Champlain. Our objective was to determine if fish consumption and distribution of predation changed with movements of cormorants associated with efforts to reduce numbers of cormorants on one of the colonies. Wildlife managers reduced populations of cormorants on Young Island, Vermont by oiling their eggs, which resulted in dispersal of breeding cormorants 35 km south to Four Brothers Islands, New York. We found that as cormorants shifted from Young Island to the colony on Four Brothers Islands, energy demands, foraging distribution, and total fish consumption increased. Birds on Four Brothers Islands foraged a greater distance from the colony compared to birds on Young Island. Additionally, consumption of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) shifted to rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) when more birds bred on Four Brothers Islands. The dispersal of cormorants from Young Island to Four Brothers Islands reduced predation on yellow perch but increased overall fish consumption. Our estimates of fish consumption ranged from 322,000–425,000 kg of fish per year at Young Island to 899,000–1,086,000 kg of fish per year at Four Brothers Islands. Results from this study demonstrate secondary impacts of management on Young Island to unmanaged areas.     

Soil phosphorus pools with addition of fertiliser phosphorus in a long-term grazing experiment

Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems - Grasslands are a globally important use of land for food and fibre production, which often require the addition of phosphorus (P) fertiliser to maximise plant...     

Azuki bean (Vigna angularis) extract inhibits the development of experimentally induced atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice

The present study investigated the effects of azuki bean (Vigna angularis) extract (VAE) on the progress of atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice induced by 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. The efficacy of VAE in NC/Nga mice was determined by measuring gross and histological skin lesions, serum IgE levels, eosinophil ratio in peripheral leucocytes, and mRNA expression levels of interleukin (IL)-4, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (IFN)-γ in splenocytes. Continuous ingestion of VAE inhibited the development of the AD-like skin lesions in a dose-dependent manner. In the VAE-treated mice, the numbers of mast cells in the skin, eosinophil ratio in peripheral leucocytes, relative mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines in the spleen, and serum IgE levels were significantly reduced. Results suggest that VAE can inhibit the development of AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice by regulating immune mediators and cells, and may be an effective alternative therapy for AD.     

Tailoring Selective Laser Melting Process Parameters for NiTi Implants

Complex-shaped NiTi constructions become more and more essential for biomedical applications especially for dental or cranio-maxillofacial implants. The additive manufacturing method of selective laser melting allows realizing complex-shaped elements with predefined porosity and three-dimensional micro-architecture directly out of the design data. We demonstrate that the intentional modification of the applied energy during the SLM-process allows tailoring the transformation temperatures of NiTi entities within the entire construction. Differential scanning calorimetry, x-ray diffraction, and metallographic analysis were employed for the thermal and structural characterizations. In particular, the phase transformation temperatures, the related crystallographic phases, and the formed microstructures of SLM constructions were determined for a series of SLM-processing parameters. The SLM-NiTi exhibits pseudoelastic behavior. In this manner, the properties of NiTi implants can be tailored to build smart implants with pre-defined micro-architecture and advanced performance.     

Effectiveness of abstinence-based incentives: Interaction with intake stimulant test results.

Intake urinalysis test result (drug positive vs. negative) has been previously identified as a strong predictor of drug abuse treatment outcome, but there is little information about how this prognostic factor may interact with the type of treatment delivered. The authors used data from a multisite study of abstinence incentives for stimulant abusers enrolled in outpatient counseling treatment (N. M. Petry, J. M. Peirce, et al., 2005) to examine this question. The first study urine was used to stratify participants into stimulant negative (n = 306) versus positive (n = 108) subgroups. Abstinence incentives significantly improved retention in those testing negative but not in those testing positive. Findings suggest that stimulant abusers presenting to treatment with a stimulant-negative urine benefit from abstinence incentives, but alternative treatment approaches are needed for those who test stimulant positive at intake. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Three-Dimensional Orthogonal Graph Drawing with Optimal Volume

An orthogonal drawing of a graph is an embedding of the graph in the rectangular grid, with vertices represented by axis-aligned boxes, and edges represented by paths in the grid that only possibly intersect at common endpoints. In this paper we study three-dimensional orthogonal drawings and provide lower bounds for three scenarios: (1) drawings where the vertices have a bounded aspect ratio, (2) drawings where the surfaces of vertices are proportional to their degrees, and (3) drawings without any such restrictions. Then we show that these lower bounds are asymptotically optimal, by providing constructions that in all scenarios match the lower bounds within a constant factor.     

College students' time management: Correlations with academic performance and stress.

Many college students may find the academic experience very stressful (K. J. Swick, 1987). One potential coping strategy frequently offered by university counseling services is time management. 165 students completed a questionnaire assessing their time management behaviors and attitudes, stress, and self-perceptions of performance and grade point average (GPA). The study revealed 2 major findings. The Time Management Behavior Scale consists of 4 relatively independent factors; the most predictive was Perceived Control of Time. Students who perceived control of their time reported significantly greater evaluations of their performance, greater work and life satisfaction, less role ambiguity, less role overload, and fewer job-induced and somatic tensions. Findings are consistent with theory and advice on time management (e.g., R. S. Schuler; 1979) but also indicate that the dynamics of time management are more complex than previously believed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Disability disclosure effects on employment interview ratings of applicants with nonvisible disabilities.

Objective: To investigate the effects of timing of verbal disclosure of a disability on employment interview ratings of applicants with nonvisible disabilities. Study Design: Participants (56 college students) viewed 2 videotaped employment interviews: 1 involving an applicant who disclosed a nonvisible disability (transverse myelitis), either early or late in the interview, and 1 with an applicant who did not disclose a disability. Outcome Measures: Qualifications/hiring, liking, and comfort with disability disclosure scales. Results: Applicants with nonvisible disabilities who chose to disclosure their disability were rated as more qualified and likeable when disclosing early in an interview. Conclusion: Individuals who wish to disclose an externally caused nonvisible disability (similar to transverse myelitis) should consider doing so early in an interview rather than at the end. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)