The effects of goal orientation on job search and reemployment: A field experiment among unemployed job seekers.

Because unemployment has detrimental effects on the well-being of unemployed people, it is important that unemployed individuals move back to work. The present study aimed at improving the understanding of the job search and reemployment process by applying goal orientation theory to job seeking. Using a 3-group field experimental design among 109 unemployed job seekers, the authors examined the effects of situational learning and performance goal orientation on participants’ job search intentions, job search behavior, and reemployment status. A situational focus on learning goals was found to be beneficial for the job search process, leading to more search intentions, more search behavior, and higher reemployment probabilities. These effects seemed to be independent of people’s dispositional goal orientation. Findings indicate that goal orientation is a promising construct for both science and practice in the field of job seeking. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Accommodating degradation results within a qualification procedure

A qualification procedure may comprise different tests which may either be successful or a failure. However, there are cases of degradation which should be taken into account. The reliability of a consecutive k-out-of-n:G set of tests is evaluated, along with the possibility of degradation. The problem is formulated as a difference equation that is transformed into a digital filter equation. Numerical results indicate improved chances of success for a set of tests that take into account the case of degradation.     

Polyaromatic hydrocarbon and PAH metabolite burdens in oiled common guillemots (Uria aalge) stranded on the east coast of England (2001 -2002)

Aside from the physical effects of oiling (e.g., hypothermia, dehydration, emaciation), chronic toxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contamination is an important factor influencing long-term recovery of oiled sea birds following an oil spill. Monitoring PAH exposure can help identify populations at risk from toxic effects of PAHs for further study and/or protection. This is the first studyto quantify PAH and metabolite tissue burdens in sea birds directly oiled following oil spills. PAHs and hydroxylated PAHs were quantified in liver samples from oiled Common Guillemots (Uria aalge) stranded along the East Coast of England using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Mean parent and metabolite PAH concentrations were 0.25+/-0.09 (range 0.04-0.97) and 0.52+/-0.14 (range 0.05-1.48) microg/g (wet wt.), respectively. The main source of PAH exposure was via ingestion of crude oil during preening, resulting in PAH uptake and tissue contamination beyond levels expected from exposure via the food chain. PAH composition corresponded with number of benzene rings in each compound and was typical of contamination from petrogenic sources; pentacyclic < tri- and tetracyclic < tricyclic < dicyclic PAHs. The occurrence of PAH metabolites detected in liver samples also provided evidence of the presence and stereoselectivity of hepatic microsomal CYP1A1 in common guillemots.     

Plasma-activated liquids for mitigating biofilms on food and food contact surfaces

Plasma-activated liquids (PALs) are emerging and promising alternatives to traditional decontamination technologies and have evolved as a new technology for applications in food, agriculture, and medicine. Contamination caused by foodborne pathogens and their biofilms has posed challenges and concerns to the food industry in terms of safety and quality. The nature of the food and the food processing environment are major factors that contribute to the growth of various microorganisms, followed by the biofilm characteristics that ensure their survival in severe environmental conditions and against traditional chemical disinfectants. PALs show an efficient impact against microorganisms and their biofilms, with various reactive species (short- and long-lived ones), physiochemical properties, and plasma processing factors playing a crucial role in mitigating biofilms. Moreover, there is potential to improve and optimize disinfection strategies using a combination of PALs with other technologies for the inactivation of biofilms. The overarching aim of this study is to build a better understanding of the parameters that govern the liquid chemistry generated in a liquid exposed to plasma and how these translate into biological effects on biofilms. This review provides a current understanding of PALs-mediated mechanisms of action on biofilms; however, the precise inactivation mechanism is still not clear and is an important part of the research. Implementation of PALs in the food industry could help overcome the disinfection hurdles and can enhance biofilm inactivation efficacy. Future perspectives in this field to expand existing state of the art to seek breakthroughs for scale-up and implementation of PALs technology in the food industry are also discussed.     

Sodar studies of some atmospheric boundary layer parameters during a solar eclipse

Sodar observations of the atmospheric boundary layer during the solar eclipse of 24 October 1995 have been examined for three different topographical stations in India. The celestial phenomenon occurred almost at the morning transitional time when night-time stable conditions were giving way to day-time unstable conditions. The echograms (sodar records) have been examined with special reference to the delay in break-up of inversion on the eclipse day. The delay was clearly reflected on the echograms of the same site when compared with the eroding inversion on a preceding/subsequent normal day. Doppler sodar data suggest a compression in vertical wind velocity and turbulence due to the increased stability during the eclipse phase.     

Kinetics and mechanism of bacterial inactivation by ultrasound waves and sonoprotective effect of milk components

Inactivation of Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes were investigated in buffer and milk upon treatment with ultrasound waves (USW). In addition, sonoprotective effect of milk components and ultrasound-induced changes in bacterial cells were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Bacterial cells were added to phosphate buffer, whole milk, skim milk, or simulated milk ultrafiltrate (SMUF). To determine the sonoprotective effect of milk components, lactose (5%), casein (3%), or β lactoglobulin (0.3%) was added to SMUF. Samples were sonicated with 24 kHz pulse USW while maintaining the system temperature between 30 to 35 °C. Aliquots were drawn at set times during sonication and bacteria were enumerated by surface plating appropriate dilutions on selective and nonselective media plates. Escherichia coli exhibited significantly higher D values in whole (2.43 min) and skim milk (2.41 min) than phosphate buffer (2.19 min). Listeria monocytogenes also showed higher D values in whole (9.31 min) and skim milk (8.61 min) compared to phosphate buffer (7.63 min). Data suggest that milk exerts a sonoprotective effect on these bacteria. Escherichia coli exhibited a log-linear inactivation kinetics followed by tailing whereas L. monocytogenes showed 1st-order kinetics throughout. Among the milk components tested, presence of lactose in SMUF resulted in significantly higher D values than SMUF for both organisms suggesting that lactose was exerting a protective effect on bacteria. SEM images showed that USW caused mechanical damage to the cell wall and cell membrane of bacteria leading to their inactivation.     

Unique atmospheric wave: precursor to the 26 January 2001 Bhuj,India, earthquake

A unique atmospheric wave was recorded by a monostatic sound detection and ranging (sodar) system operating at Vapi, India (20.37° N, 72.90° E), on 25 January 2001 prior to the Bhuj, India, earthquake that jolted India on 26 January 2001. This precursory wave was the largest amplitude (480 m) and lowest frequency wave (70.02 μHz) ever recorded at 25 sodar operational sites in India/Maitri, Antarctica, in the past 30 years. It appears to be an Acoustic Gravity Wave (AGW) propagating in the lower atmosphere, and this precursory signature may support the hypothesis of AGW generation prior to a major earthquake.     

A simplified computational procedure for the analysis of planar arrays

A simplified procedure for inverting the mutual impedance matrix of a uniform-spaced planar array of dipoles is presented. It relies on the special features of this matrix being symmetric block-Toeplitz and having a nilpotent off-diagonal part. Active radiation impedances and voltage standing-wave ratio (VSWR) values are then evaluated for various element positions and scan angles. The array-element patterns and far-field radiation patterns are then derived. Some specific examples are given to exhibit the significant reduction in computational effort. It is concluded that this method may be generalized to the analysis of higher order excitation modes and to nonuniform spaced arrays.