Steps toward an evolutionary personality psychology: Individual differences in the social rank domain.

A comprehensive evolutionary personality psychology can be developed by identifying individual differences within each of the evolved systems that regulate social behaviour. We developed a questionnaire measure of social rank style, defined as individual differences in preferred strategies for pursuing, defending, and, when necessary, relinquishing social rank. The 17-item Rank Style with Peers Questionnaire (RSPQ) comprises three nearly independent scales: dominant leadership, coalition-building, and ruthless self-advancement. A series of studies demonstrated that: (a) the RSPQ’s, factor structure is robust; (b) the three rank style variables are not redundant with the five-factor traits or adult attachment styles; (c) they are related in theoretically expected ways to adjustment outcomes, to agentic and communal interpersonal behaviours, and to social reputations; (d) they predict group and individual performance outcomes relevant to organisational psychology; and (e) they are related in theoretically expected ways to psychopathology, including social anxiety disorder and depressive symptoms. Future directions for research on social rank styles and prospects for an evolutionary personality psychology are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evaluation of Adh1 alleles and transgenic soybean seeds using Scorpion PCR and HRM analysis

The identification of both approved and non-approved genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is an integral part of GMO biosafety legislation in many countries. One aspect that may affect PCR-based detection of a GMO lies within the analysis of its genetic stability, as sequence alterations or DNA instabilities may impede quantification by PCR. Genetic stability can be analyzed using various methods, yet many of these methods have distinct disadvantages, including low sensitivity. In this study, high resolution melting (HRM) analysis and real-time PCR with Scorpion primers were used as a method to analyze the 3′ end of RR soybeans (RR 40-3-2) in a large number of samples (n = 1,034). No evidence for the occurrence of mutation events was found, implying that the nucleotide sequence of this region is unlikely to be unstable and is well suited as a target for the quantification of RR soybeans. Additionally, and as a preparative work for an optimization of the method, a 174 bp region of the first intron of the Adh1 gene was analyzed in several varieties of maize with different GMO events using the same approach. The results show that 2 alleles are present. In further experiments, the different alleles were cloned into plasmids to generate homozygous plasmids from heterozygous templates in order to generate for a more precise analysis. The overall methodological aim of these studies was to compare HRM analysis with Scorpion primer PCR. Both methods were capable of differentiating between the 2 homozygous and heterozygous alleles. For a better discrimination, however, we conclude that it is most reliable to consider the results of both methods. This dual approach is assumed to be an effective tool as an accurate, high-throughput means of the screening of GMOs for potential genetic instabilities that may interfere with the detection and identification of specific GM events.     

Evaluating Off-Peak Traffic Signal Control Strategies

This article discusses the evaluation of flashing yellow as an off-peak traffic signal control strategy by establishing an interface between a real-time traffic simulation software HUTSIM (Helsinki University of Technology Simulation Model) and a standard NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) traffic signal controller. The analysis was performed as part of research dealing with evaluation of different off-peak traffic signal operation strategies and their relative impacts on delay, fuel consumption, vehicle emissions, and driver safety. Because of its widespread use, the main emphasis was on the flashing yellow signal control. Delay field study was performed to obtain and analyze real-world data and compare the efficiency of flashing yellow and fixed time control strategies. To widen the research effort and eliminate inaccuracies due to certain assumptions made during the field study, computer simulation was chosen as an effective tool for comparison of different control strategies. Four different strategies were evaluated: fixed time, fully and semiactuated, and flashing yellow. Flashing yellow was found to be the most efficient of the signal strategies. The impact of this type of off-peak signal control on driver safety also was studied, and a summary of results is presented.     

Note des rédacteurs et de la rédactrice invité(e)s/A word from the issue editors.

It has been an extremely interesting, although occasionally hectic, experience working together on what became a truly collaborative, three-way communication effort among authors, reviewers, and editors. This collection of papers, thematically arranged, will be seconded by a group of papers dealing with roots and precursors of social psychology and its development, in applied contexts, to appear later in 1992 in a special issue of the French sociological journal Sociétés Contemporaines. The original papers at the conference were generally limited to 7 pages. Our international group of authors (including a large Canadian delegation) prepared them for publication, received feedback from the reviewers and editors and continued reworking their papers. Together, we pondered what positive, concrete steps could be suggested to improve the papers as to their scholarly accuracy, clarity of argument, rigour of interpretation, and communicability to the journal's readers--for the most part non-specialists in the area of the history of social psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Synthesis of biopolymeric particles loaded with phosphorus and potassium: characterisation and release tests

The authors synthesised nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with P and K from KH₂ PO₄ using gelatin type‐A and type‐B, and sodium alginate as carriers. Using type‐A and type‐B gelatin, quasi‐spherical particles were obtained, with average sizes of 682 and 856 nm, respectively; with sodium alginate, the resulting NPs exhibited spherical shapes and 600 nm particle average size. The authors found an interaction between KH₂ PO₄ and alginate via the hydrogen bonds existent among the carboxylic groups of the carbohydrate and the OH‐groups of the H₂ PO₄ ‐; interactions among gelatin types with the OH‐groups and the H₂ PO₄ ‐ion were also observed. Adding trypsin to the distilled water solutions of the NPs coated with type‐A gelatin increased the concentration of P in the solution by threefold, while increasing that of K increased by 2.6‐fold. Conversely, adding α ‐amylase to the water solutions with sodium alginate increased the P and K concentrations in the solution by nearly 1.3‐ and 1.1‐fold, respectively. Thus, sodium alginate resulted in NPs with smaller sizes and better spherical formations, though with a high polydispersity index and lower release rate of P and K. This low release rate represents an advantage since plants demand nutrients for long periods, and conventional fertilisers display low use efficiency.Inspec keywords: nanofabrication, nanoparticles, hydrogen bonds, gelatin, biomedical materials, particle size, enzymes, molecular biophysics, biochemistry, nanobiotechnology, polymer films, potassium compoundsOther keywords: sodium alginate, biopolymeric particles, release tests, type‐B gelatin, spherical shapes, carboxylic groups, OH‐groups, distilled water solutions, type‐A gelatin, quasi‐spherical particles, particle average size, hydrogen bonds, trypsin, spherical formations, high polydispersity index, plants, α‐amylase, size 682.0 nm, size 856.0 nm, size 600.0 nm, H₂ PO₄ , KH₂ PO₄      

Possible relation of osteopontin to development of psammoma bodies in human papillary thyroid cancer

Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is the most useful procedure for the evaluation of thyroid nodules. The requirement for repeated aspirations in the follow-up of benign nodular thyroid disease, however, is controversial. To determine the value of re-aspirations in benign nodular thyroid disease, we studied 457 fine-needle reaspirations performed on 216 patients (197 female, 19 male) aged 42.9+/-12 years with uninodular (n = 65) and multinodular (n = 151) thyroid disease. Two hundred fifty-seven of these were second, 137 were third, 46 were fourth, and 17 were fifth re-aspirations of the same nodule, performed in a mean follow-up time of 43.9+/-31 (3-156) months. FNAC results were benign in 407 (89%), insufficient for diagnosis in 31 (6.8%), suspicious in 16 (3.5%), and papillary carcinoma (PC) in 3 (0.7%). An initial benign diagnosis did not change after multiple aspirations in 213 (98.61%) of the cases. Three patients with initial aspirations read as benign had a diagnosis of PC from their second biopsies, (diagnosis confirmed at surgery). Re-examination of the initial FNAC revealed atypical features in 1 of the 3 patients. These 3 patients likely represent a false-negative result of the initial FNAC rather than benign nodular disease transformed to a malignant one during the follow-up period. In conclusion, a second aspiration of clinically suspicious nodules may correct a few initial false-negative results, but routine additional re-aspirations are not useful for clinically stable disease.     

d- andl-Lactate determination in dairy products: Presentation of a fast automated analysis system

A flow-injection system is presented, which is versatile, automated and has an integrated enzyme system. Its efficiency at determiningd- andl-lactate separately in dairy products is compared with the officially used reference method (DIN 10335). By means of a mathematical elimination of matrix effects, the pretreatment steps can be clearly reduced. As a result of the immobilization of the enzymes, an appropriate automation software and an adaptation of the system developed to the given medium, the analysis could be performed within 5 min and was distinctly cheaper than alternative methods. The values determined in 15 different dairy products deviated from those of the reference method by 3% at a maximum.     

Crystallization of S-layer protein lattices on surfaces and interfaces

A review is given on the structure, chemistry, and assembly of crystalline bacterial cell surface layers (S-layers). S-layers composed of single protein or glycoprotein species represent the most common cell surface structures observed in prokaryotic organisms. Isolated S-layer proteins possess the intrinsic property for recrystallization into isoporous monomolecular arrays in suspension and at a broad spectrum of surfaces (e.g. silicon, metals, polymers) and interfaces (e.g. air–liquid interface or lipid films). The well-defined arrangement of functional groups on S-layer lattices allows the binding of functional molecules (e.g. enzymes, antibodies, ligands) and particles in defined regular arrays. S-layers also represent templates for the formation of inorganic nanocrystal superlattices (e.g. Au, CdS, Pt) as required for molecular electronics and non-linear optics. Finally, S-layers can be used as the structural basis for a biomolecular construction kit involving all major species of biological molecules for applications in molecular nanotechnology, nanobiotechnology and biomimetics.     

Psychoanalysis and hypnoanalysis: A professional history and a challenge.

Describes the professional development and work of the present author, including her involvement with psychoanalysis, work with hypnosis, and clinical work. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)