Factor analysis of the Test Anxiety Scale and evidence concerning the components of test anxiety.

The scores of 1,200 undergraduates on Sarason's Test Anxiety Scale were factor analyzed. The analysis involved rotation to an orthogonal structure that produced 2 factors that accounted, respectively, for 53.45% and 31.50% of the total variance. Both cognitive "worry" and "emotionality" items loaded strongly on the 1st factor, which appears to reflect worry about oneself and one's performance on tests and a variety of physical and emotional consequences of this intense worry. The 2nd factor seems to reflect emotional distress in testing situations, but no worry or interference with performance, in persons who appear to lack a strong achievement orientation. Subscales based on these 2 factors were negatively correlated. Implications for the 2-component theory of test anxiety are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An FTIR study of the induction and release of kiwifruit buds from dormancy

BACKGROUND: Many deciduous, perennial fruit crops require winter chilling for adequate budbreak and flowering. Recent research has shown that changes in sugar and amino acid profiles are associated with the release of buds from dormancy. This paper uses FTIR spectrometry to provide an alternative mechanism for tracking metabolic changes in the meristems of kiwifruit buds during winter dormancy. The results suggest that the application of multivariate analysis to FTIR spectra has the potential to be a reliable and fast method for detecting structural and compositional changes in fruit crops. RESULTS: Ten wave numbers of the FTIR spectra are used to calculate a bud development function. This function has been validated using data from two seasons and four orchards, and by monitoring the effects of hydrogen cyanamide application, sugar concentrations and soil temperatures on this function. These wave numbers appear to be associated with carbohydrate, pectin and cellulose levels in the meristems. CONCLUSION: It is expected that this FTIR signature can be used to advance our understanding of the influence of the various environmental and physiological factors on the breaking of bud dormancy and shoot outgrowth, including the optimum timing and concentrations of applications of budbreak regulators, such as hydrogen cyanamide. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

The TDS: a new device for comparing active and passive-guided touch.

A problem when comparing active and passive tactile perception of two-dimensional (2-D) stimuli is matching the active and passive tasks on all variables except the one of interest--active versus passive touch. A new computer-controlled device--the tactile display system (TDS)--has been developed to deal with this problem. The TDS tracks an "active" subject's fingertip movements during exploration of a raised line drawing and digitally records this spatio-temporal information. It then guides a passive participant's fingertip over the same path, matching for location and speed. Any difference in performance can thus be attributed to the different conditions (active versus passive) because other variables are held constant.     

The ability of non-ergonomists in the health care setting to make manual handling risk assessments and implement changes

The health care setting presents particular risks from manual handling and it is known that training in manual handling techniques is ineffective in reducing these risks when used as a stand-alone measure. The 'Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992' requires employers to consider hazardous manual handling, advising the use of an ergonomics approach. However, it is not known how well-equipped non-ergonomists in the health care setting are to deal with this approach. Therefore, the ability of non-ergonomists to make manual handling risk assessments, with or without additional training, and to implement changes to the work environment was investigated. Twenty-five pairs of subjects from a broad cross section of departments in a busy teaching hospital were studied; training and a guide book were provided for one of each pair and the guide book only for the other. Subjects then independently prioritised three tasks in their department and undertook a full assessment of a specified task. All work was repeated by an ergonomist and the subjects' assessments were scored in comparison with the ergonomist. Each department was followed up after six months to assess progress with implementing recommendations. Trends in the data indicated that both groups appeared able to identify hazards though not necessarily to prioritise the tasks. The trained group tended to score better in assessments although wide variation existed within both groups and inter-group differences were not significant at the 5% level. Approximately half of staff assessments were considered 'adequate' to 'very good', in comparison with the ergonomist. Implementation of assessment recommendations ranged from nil to almost full compliance. Incomplete implementation seemed to be related to an apparent confusion in some departments over who was responsible for making changes, a lack of finances for changes and overstretched managers having other priorities.     

DOCPRO — a dynamic simulator for chemical processes

The design principles of DOCPRO — a dynamic simulator for chemical processes, are discussed. The system permits great flexibility in the input data and by retaining all process information on files, enhances the ability of the user to interface with a simulation system at a higher level than hitherto permitted.     

Synthesis of novel alkyl-aryl polyamide

A laboratory procedure for synthesizing an alkylaryl polyamide curing agent for liquid epoxy resins from commercially available, low cost materials is given. The various chemical reactions required to obtain the desired end-product are described, and several properties of the novel polyamide are listed. This agent was found suitable for producing foamed or frothed epoxy products.     

Crystallinity determination in polymers and a quantitative comparison for polyethylene

A review is given of methods most often used in determining the crystallinity of polymers. In general, emphasis is placed on specific features peculiar to the various techniques rather than experimental aspects. Because of the considerable and increasing use of differential scanning calorimetry, enthalpic methods of crystallinity determination are considered in some detail. The need for a critical selection of parameters representing the fully amorphous and crystalline states is emphasised. This selection can be made for polyethylene, and results of crystallinity determinations using several methods are given for this polymer. Agreement is generally good for unoriented melt-crystallised material (the n.m.r. value is, as expected, anomalous). Interfacial effects are therefore negligible and the structure is adequately represented by a simple two-phase model. Complications arise when polymer is oriented (single crystals grown from solution are included here) and there is little correlation between the various crystallinities.     

The interpretation of impedance measurements on oxide-coated aluminium part 2. The effect of flaws in As-formed films

The interpretation of a.c. impedance data, corrected for solution and double layer losses, is considered for air-formed and anodic alumina films. The effect of flaws on the impedance characteristics could be considerable at the flaw densities observed, and in certain circumstances could predominate over the prevailing structural losses in the bulk film material. A distinction is made between “residual” flaws, associated with regions of impurity segregation in the surface and present in all films, and “mechanical” flaws, associated with relatively gross structural defects in the metal and particularly predominant in air-formed films.