Solar Rooftops as Distributed Resources

The transition away from regulated, vertically integrated monopolies provides an opportunity to establish photovoltaics as a viable and popular distributed resource. State policymakers can play a critical role in offering customers new solar energy choices.     

A paired comparison experiment for gathering expert judgment for an aircraft wiring risk assessment

Wire failure in aircraft can be attributed to several factors and the assessment of the risk of wire failure is becoming an increasingly important task. This paper will discuss the results of an actual experiment to use the paired-comparison technique for expert judgment to develop a relationship for the probability of wire failure as a function of influencing factors in an aircraft environment. The reasons for using this technique are two-fold. First, the failure probability depends on many variables including wire gauge, vibration, environmental condition, etc. In addition, the wire failure data are sparse and fitting these data to a complex failure function is a nontrivial task that may involve a host of assumptions that may not be provable.We describe a method for using actual failure data and the results from a paired comparison to populate the model parameters. In the approach, paired comparison data from select environments is used to obtain failure rate estimates for the candidate environments. Next, a functional relationship for wire failure as a function of the environments is constructed using a proportional hazards model. A regression model is fit from the failure rate estimates to the environmental variables and is used as an estimate of the failure response surface. This technique is being investigated as a means to generate failure rates for an electrical wiring interconnection system (EWIS) risk assessment software tool currently being developed for the FAA Tech Center.     

The critical role of conflict resolution in teams: A close look at the links between conflict type, conflict management strategies, and team outcomes.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 93(2) of Journal of Applied Psychology (see record 2008-02855-019). Figure 2 on p. 184 (Theoretical Contributions section) is missing information about the numbers of teams and statements for the two groups using particularlistic strategies. For the decreasing and consistently low performance/decreasing and consistently low satisfaction group, there were 14 teams and 40 statements; for the decreasing and consistently low performance/increasing and consistently high satisfaction group, there were 11 teams and 46 statements.] This article explores the linkages between strategies for managing different types of conflict and group performance and satisfaction. Results from a qualitative study of 57 autonomous teams suggest that groups that improve or maintain top performance over time share 3 conflict resolution tendencies: (a) focusing on the content of interpersonal interactions rather than delivery style, (b) explicitly discussing reasons behind any decisions reached in accepting and distributing work assignments, and (c) assigning work to members who have the relevant task expertise rather than assigning by other common means such as volunteering, default, or convenience. The authors' results also suggest that teams that are successful over time are likely to be both proactive in anticipating the need for conflict resolution and pluralistic in developing conflict resolution strategies that apply to all group members. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ecological Example of Conditioned Flavor Aversion in Plant–Herbivore Interactions: Effect of Terpenes of Eucalyptus Leaves on Feeding by Common Ringtail and Brushtail Possums

We investigated the hypothesis that feeding deterrence of common ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) and common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) by Eucalyptus terpenes (in this case 1,8-cineole) is a result of a conditioned flavor aversion (CFA), due to the association of terpenes with postingestive effects of another group of Eucalyptus toxins, the diformylphloroglucinol compounds (DFPCs). Wild-caught common ringtail and common brushtail possums showed a dose-dependent reduction in food intake when 1,8-cineole was added to the diet. However, after continued exposure over 12 days to increasing amounts of cineole in the diet, both species substantially increased their intakes of cineole relative to control animals. This indicated that the aversion to cineole was a conditioned response rather than a physiological limitation in their ability to detoxify terpenes. Subsequent exposure to a diet including both cineole and jensenone (a simple DFPC also found in Eucalyptus and considered to cause postingestive emesis) in corresponding amounts was able to recondition the dose-dependent aversion. Consequently, animals that had been given jensenone showed an aversion to cineole-rich diets that matched the behavior of animals in the control group. This supported our hypothesis that the effect of terpenes on feeding of these marsupial folivores on Eucalyptus is due to a CFA. Possums can cope with levels of terpenes in the diet that far exceed those occurring naturally. The role of terpenes in marsupial folivore–Eucalyptus interactions appears to be to act as a cue to levels of toxic DFPCs in the leaves, rather than acting as toxins in their own right.     

Protonated niobate/titanate pyrochlores via lead-acid exchange in Pb1.5Nb2O6.5 and Pb2Nb1.33Ti0.67O6.67

Hydrogen-based niobates and niobate-titanates were derived from the pyrochlores Pb_1.5Nb₂O_6.5 (PN) and Pb₂Nb_1.33Ti_0.67O_6.67 (PNT) by ion exchange in acid baths, affording sub-micron size white powders. The niobium sublattice was left intact, as shown by X-ray diffraction. A combination of stripping and thermogravimetric analyses gave the effective formulas H_2.66Pb_0.17Nb₂O_6.5·0.5H₂O (HPN) and H_3.88Pb_0.06Nb_1.33Ti_0.67O_6.67·0.33H₂O (HPNT). The corresponding structural refinements gave good fits to the XRD data. Densities measured by He pycnometry agreed with densities calculated from XRD analyses and the effective formulas. Thermal stability was assessed by TGA, DSC, and XRD. With increasing temperature, HPN and HPNT lost weight (H₂O), becoming amorphous, and then transforming to crystalline phases, with greatly reduced particle size. HPN was more stable than HPNT. The electrical conductivities of powder compacts in wet atmospheres were moderate and attributed mainly to proton conduction; i.e., 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻⁵ S cm⁻¹ for HPN and 10⁻⁷ to 10⁻⁶ S cm⁻¹ for HPNT (from room temperature to 230 °C). Experimental results were interpreted in terms of Nb(V) being a stronger electron acceptor than Ti(IV).     

Does completing a craving questionnaire promote increased smoking craving? An experimental investigation.

The authors evaluated whether completing a multi-item assessment of smoking craving (the Questionnaire of Smoking Urges [QSU]) promoted increases in smoking craving. A sample of 39 regular smokers was randomly assigned to 1 of 3 manipulations (each of 3 min duration): (a) complete the QSU–Brief (10 items), (b) complete a noncraving questionnaire that was structurally identical to the QSU–Brief (scale-based control), and (c) a time-based control. Participants responded to an oral question assessing their degree of craving immediately before and after the manipulations. Results indicated that the QSU did not promote increases in craving compared to the 2 control conditions. Despite continuing debate over the most appropriate self-report measure of craving, investigators who use the QSU–Brief can be reasonably sure that the scores that result are not biased due to reactivity effects. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Biographical data in employment selection: Can validities be made generalizable?

The hypothesis was examined that organizational specificity of biodata validity results from the methods typically used to select and key items. In this study, items were initially screened for job relevance, keying was based on large samples from multiple organizations, and items were retained only if they showed validity across organizations. Cross-validation was performed on approximately 11,000 first-line supervisors in 79 organizations. The resulting validities were meta-analyzed across organizations, age levels, sex, and levels of education, supervisory experience, and company tenure. In all cases, validities were generalizable. Validities were also stable across time and did not appear to stem from measurement of knowledge, skills, or abilities acquired through job experience. Finally, these results provide additional evidence against the hypothesis of situational specificity of validities, the first large-sample evidence in a noncognitive domain. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of cognitive assessment methods with heterosocially anxious college women.

Investigated the comparability of self-statements generated by different cognitive assessment methods (structured questionnaire and thought listing) and the effect of an assessment delay on cognitive phenomena (self-statements; rational and irrational beliefs, evaluative, potency, and activity semantic schema; self-attributions; and self-ratings of discomfort and performance). The interrelationships among different cognitive variables were also studied. Ss were 64 high and low heterosocially anxious (as measured by the Social Avoidance and Distress Scale and a survey of heterosocial interactions) undergraduate females, who engaged in a conversation with a male confederate. One-half of the Ss completed the measures after the conversation, and the other half completed them 1 wk later. Findings show that although the 2 self-statement methods were counterbalanced, order effects were nonsignificant. Correlations indicated that self-statements (positive and negative thoughts) generated by the 2 methods were unrelated. Multivariate and univariate analyses failed to reveal significant effects for time of assessment. Significant effects were found on almost all variables for anxiety, constituting additional construct validity for these measures. A correlational matrix provided information about interrelationships among the cognitive variables. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

MMPI differences between alcoholics and drug abusers: Effect of age and race.

Inpatients in Veterans Administration substance-abuse treatment programs voluntarily took the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) as part of a routine clinical evaluation. The alcohol-dependence-only group (n?=?207) were older (M?=?49.6 years) and had a higher percentage of White Ss (72.9%) than did either the drug-dependence group (n?=?49, M?=?32.9 years, Whites?=?53.1%) or a mixed alcohol- and drug-dependence group (n?=?160, M?=?35.0 years, Whites?=?60.0%). Previously reported differences between alcoholics and drug abusers in depression and psychopathy were obtained when age and race were not used as covariates, but no differences were found when the effects of age and race were statistically controlled. Mixed alcohol and drug abusers had somewhat more pathological MMPI scores than did alcoholics, even when effects due to age and race were partialed out. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)