Moderating effects of sensitivity to punishment and sensitivity to reward on associations between marijuana effect expectancies and use.

The study examined associations between sensitivity to reward (SR), sensitivity to punishment (SP), positive and negative expectancies, and marijuana use in a college sample (N = 809). Marijuana users (n = 227) reported lower SP and greater SR than nonusers. SR attenuated the association between SP and the probability of marijuana use. SP attenuated the association between positive expectancies and the probability of marijuana use as well as the frequency of use among users. SP potentiated the association between negative expectancies and use. The results indicate that SP and SR have interactive effects and that SP moderates the strength of positive and negative cues for risk behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Heterogeneous InSb quantum well transistors on silicon for ultra-high speed, low power logic applications

The heterogeneous integration of InSb quantum well transistors onto silicon substrates is investigated for the first time. 85 nm gate length FETs with f_T = 305 GHz at V_ds = 0.5 V and DC performance suitable for digital logic are demonstrated on material with a buffer just 1.8 mum thick. An initial step towards integrating InSb FETs with mainstream Si CMOS for high-speed energy-efficient logic applications has been achieved.     

Learning to use new technologies by older adults: Perceived difficulties,experimentation behaviour and usability

This paper examines the factors and theoretical frameworks for the adoption of technology for older adults, and proposes two models of technology acceptance and rejection, one from an ease of learning perspective, and one from a system and user perspective. Both models are supported from reports on two case studies of older adults using handheld touchscreen tablet devices; one in which the participants are supported during tasks primarily related to walking and navigation, and one in which participants are unsupported in communication related tasks. The first study shows the powerful role that facilitating conditions have for learning how to use digital technologies for this user group, whether supporting through step by step guidance, providing a friendly space to use trial and error methods, and/or provision of a manual. The second study shows the pitfalls of a lack of facilitating conditions during initial use, and highlights potential for appropriate design in helping to avoid some user errors during this phase.     

Defining Media Enjoyment as the Satisfaction of Intrinsic Needs

This article presents a model of enjoyment rooted in self‐determination theory ( Deci & Ryan, 1985 ) that includes the satisfaction of three needs related to psychological well‐being: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. In an experiment designed to validate this conceptualization of enjoyment, we manipulate video game characteristics related to the satisfaction of these needs and examine their relative effects on enjoyment. The validated model explains 51% of the variance in enjoyment, even without including needs usually studied in relation to enjoyment such as pleasure seeking. Results indicate the utility of defining enjoyment as need satisfaction. These results are discussed in terms of a broader conceptualization of enjoyment represented as the satisfaction of a comprehensive set of functional needs.     

PostDock: A novel visualization tool for the analysis of molecular docking

“PostDock”, a new visualization tool for the analysis and comparison of molecular docking results is described. It processes a docking results database and displays an interactive pseudo-3D snapshot of multiple ligand docking poses such that their docking energies and docking poses are visually encoded for rapid assessment. The docking energies are represented by a transparency scale whereas the docking poses are encoded by a color scale. The applications of PostDock for ligand–protein docking and for a novel molecular design approach termed “reverse-docking” are presented.     

The Management of Knowledge during Design and Implementation of Process Technologies

Knowledge and learning play a major part in the successful implementation of process technologies. We suggest that managers of implementation projects can improve the initial performance levels of the process in which a new technology resides by ensuring that useful knowledge, present in the organization at the start of the implementation project, is employed to greatest effect during the design of the modified process and that new learning is not lost. This does not necessarily require major investment in computerized systems – merely exploring what potentially useful knowledge is already available within the organization, or can readily be obtained from external contact, may improve the efficiency of technology implementation. Use of available knowledge can also help to speed up the implementation process by reducing the number of, and time required for, the adaptations necessary to get the process to the desired performance level.     

Detailed observation and measurement of sewer sediment erosion under aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

A greater understanding of the erosion behaviour of sewer sediments is necessary in order to reliably estimate the amount and nature of the sewer sediments released from deposits in sewers and transported either to waste water treatment plants or discharged into the environment. Research has indicated that microbial activity in sediment can influence the physical release of sediment from in-pipe deposits. This paper reports on a series of erosion tests in which sewer sediments from different sewer networks are kept under different environmental conditions and their resistance to erosion is examined. The erosion tests are carried out under aerobic and anaerobic conditions and two temperatures, one representing ambient sewer temperatures and a lower temperature that significantly suppresses bacterial activity.