Development of role-taking skills in young children.

A role-taking hierarchy was developed based on analysis of the H. Borke (see record 1972-00686-001), the N. Burns and L. Cavey (1957), and the M. J. Chandler and S. Greenspan (see record 1973-02093-001) role-taking tasks, and on 2 new tasks constructed by the authors, all of which deal with the same affective content. Tasks were presented to 7 girls and 7 boys in each of 3 age groups (3 yrs 0 mo to 3 yrs 11 mo, 4 yrs 0 mo to 4 yrs 11 mo, and 5 yrs 0 mo to 5 yrs 11 mo). Data were analyzed by a scalogram and a cluster analysis. The hypothesis that these tasks would form a hierarchy such that the skills needed for the early tasks are logically prerequisite to those needed for the later tasks was supported. A fundamental structural difference--sequential vs simultaneous decentering--was identified. The multidimensional nature of role-taking tasks is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A scientific problem-solving model of psychological assessment.

Comments that much of the current controversy in psychodiagnostics is a result of the failure to differentiate between assessment as a process of problem solving and testing as one set of methods for problem solving. One solution to this problem is for practice and training to shift away from their current emphasis on knowledge and technical expertise and toward a conceptual approach to psychological assessment. A scientific, problem-solving model of psychological practice is described in detail as it applies to the process of assessment. The model consists of 3 basic elements: The problem-solving process, levels of organizational action, and methods. The problem-solving process itself is broken down into 6 steps: problem clarification, planning, development, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination. Implications of the model for the improvement of practice, for the determination of assessment competency, and for training are discussed. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Iron-containing compounds as flame retarding/smoke-suppressing additives for PVC

The incorporation of a range of iron-containing inorganic and organometallic compounds into a semi-rigid PVC formulation has been investigated. Limiting Oxygen Index and Smoke Density data were obtained across a wide range of formulations and the effects of the compounds on flammability and smoke generation are discussed. Iron-containing inorganic compounds appear to have little effect on the flammability of semi-rigid PVC but several of the organoiron compounds and iron oxides markedly reduce smoke formation.     

Isoprene epoxydiols as precursors to secondary organic aerosol formation: acid-catalyzed reactive uptake studies with authentic compounds

Isoprene epoxydiols (IEPOX), formed from the photooxidation of isoprene under low-NO(x) conditions, have recently been proposed as precursors of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) on the basis of mass spectrometric evidence. In the present study, IEPOX isomers were synthesized in high purity (>99%) to investigate their potential to form SOA via reactive uptake in a series of controlled dark chamber studies followed by reaction product analyses. IEPOX-derived SOA was substantially observed only in the presence of acidic aerosols, with conservative lower-bound yields of 4.7-6.4% for β-IEPOX and 3.4-5.5% for δ-IEPOX, providing direct evidence for IEPOX isomers as precursors to isoprene SOA. These chamber studies demonstrate that IEPOX uptake explains the formation of known isoprene SOA tracers found in ambient aerosols, including 2-methyltetrols, C(5)-alkene triols, dimers, and IEPOX-derived organosulfates. Additionally, we show reactive uptake on the acidified sulfate aerosols supports a previously unreported acid-catalyzed intramolecular rearrangement of IEPOX to cis- and trans-3-methyltetrahydrofuran-3,4-diols (3-MeTHF-3,4-diols) in the particle phase. Analysis of these novel tracer compounds by aerosol mass spectrometry (AMS) suggests that they contribute to a unique factor resolved from positive matrix factorization (PMF) of AMS organic aerosol spectra collected from low-NO(x), isoprene-dominated regions influenced by the presence of acidic aerosols.     

Milk yield in rats in relation to activity and size of the mammary secretory cell population

An attempt was made to partition changes in milk yield during lactation in the rat between changes in the size of the secretory cell population and changes in cellular activity. Groups of rats were studied on d 2, 7, 14, 21 and 28 of lactation. Milk yield increased between d 2 and 7, less markedly between d 7 and 14 and decreased between d 14 and 21. Milk secretion had apparently ceased on d 28. Total mammary DNA (DNAt) and RNA (RNAt) increased from d 2 to 14. It is concluded that of the increase in milk yield between d 2 and 14, an increase in cell population accounted for 75% and an increase in cellular activity for 25%. A decrease in activity appeared to be entirely responsible for the decrease in yield between d 14 and 21.     

Working memory, attention, and communication disturbances in schizophrenia.

The authors hypothesized that schizophrenic communication disturbances reflect specific cognitive deficits in the areas of working memory and attention. They examined the cognitive correlates of communication disturbances, as measured by linguistic reference performance, in schizophrenic (n?=?48), bipolar (n?=?24), and nonpsychiatric control (n?=?23) individuals. Reference performance ratings in the schizophrenic patients were associated with scores on tests of working memory and attention and were not related to performance on concept formation or verbal fluency tests. In contrast, in the bipolar and nonpsychiatric individuals, reference performance was associated with concept formation and verbal fluency test scores but was not related to performance on tests of working memory. Implications with respect to the processes underlying schizophrenic communication disturbances are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effect of an aerobic interval training program on intermittent anaerobic performance

The effects of a 9-week aerobic interval training program on anaerobic intermittent performance were investigated. Intermittent work consisted of four repeat 30-sec maximal efforts on a cycle ergometer (Wingate test) with 3-min recovery intervals. Thirteen men trained 3 days a week on the cycle ergometer, completing 3-min work-to-rest intervals and progressing from 5 to 10 reps. Relative and absolute values of aerobic power increased significantly for the training group (p < .05). No significant change was observed for the control group (n = 11). The training group demonstrated significant increases in the four anaerobic variables of short-term peak power (SPP), short-term anaerobic capacity (SAC), intermediate-term peak power (IPP), and total work (TW), and across the four 30-sec maximal repeats for anaerobic performance (T1-T4) (p < .05). Greater percentages of increase occurred for IPP and TW, especially during Repeats 3 and 4. The control group only demonstrated a significant increase in SPP for Repeat 3. These data suggest that the type of interval training program used in the study increased aerobic power and also enhanced performance in repeated high intensity, short duration work.     

Social and physical anhedonia and valence and arousal aspects of emotional experience.

Two studies examined whether self-reported anhedonia is associated with 2 facets of emotional experience, valence and arousal. In Study 1, in multiple assessments of emotional experience (e.g., naturalistic and lab contexts and social and nonsocial situations), people with elevated social anhedonia (n = 40) reported less intensity of positive affect than both controls (n = 30) and people with elevated perceptual aberration-magical ideation (n = 29). Social anhedonia was also associated with providing less emotional content when describing what it is like to experience positive situations. In contrast, both social anhedonia and perceptual aberration-magical ideation were associated with increased frequency of negative affect for their daily experiences. Moreover, social anhedonia was not associated with a decrease specifically in high-arousal emotions. In Study 2 (n = 339), social and physical anhedonia (but not perceptual aberration-magical ideation) were again associated with decreased self-reported positive affect to lab stimuli. In these studies, results were not statistically accounted for by personality, current mood, or current distress. Overall, results suggest anhedonia may be associated with a general decrease in self-reported positive affect intensity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The desorption of chemisorbed oxygen from activated carbons and its relationship to ageing and methyl iodide retention efficiency

KI impregnated carbons are used to prevent emission of traces of radioactive iodine compounds from British gas-cooled nuclear reactors. Commercial activated carbons, both with and without potassium iodide impregnant, have been compared in terms of the carbon dioxide and monoxide evolved when they are subjected to a linear temperature rise under inert gas. The desorption patterns obtained have been related to the type of carbon, the effect of aqueous impregnation and the effect of increasing surface oxidation with time (ageing). A strong relationship between the level of combined surface oxygen and methyl iodide retention efficiency is proposed and it is shown that those surface groups which decompose to carbon dioxide have the most deleterious effect on the retention efficiency of methyl iodide. Carboxylic acid and anhydride groups are the most likely source of carbon dioxide and prevention or reduction of the rate of formation of these groups is a necessary step in maintaining carbon performance.