Individual Assessments for Personnel Selection: An Update on a Rarely Researched But Avidly Practiced Practice.

To keep consulting psychologists up-to-date on research relevant to practice, a review was conducted of the recent literature written about individual assessment practices. This review on articles and books that were published in the past 10 years. Trends in individual assessment practices are discussed, and theoretical support for the use of individual assessment in personnel selection is provided despite the limited empirical support. A research agenda for individual assessment practices is also proposed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sensory characteristics and iron dialyzability of gluten-free bread fortified with iron

The objectives of the present study were (a) to produce gluten-free bread, fortified with iron (GFB-Fe), using selected iron compounds (ferric pyrophosphate, ferric pyrophosphate with emulsifiers, NaFeEDTA, electrolytic iron, ferrous gluconate, ferrous lactate and ferrous sulphate) (b) to test sensory characteristics of the GFB-Fe (feel-mouth texture, crumb colour, aroma and taste) (c) to compare iron dialyzability of various iron compounds in GFB-Fe. The most acceptable products were those fortified with ferric pyrophosphate with emulsifiers and ferric pyrophosphate. Ferrous dialyzable iron (ferrous iron with molecular weight lower than 8000 Da, an index for prediction of iron bioavailability) was measured under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Ferrous dialyzable iron in GFB-Fe fortified with ferric pyrophosphate with emulsifiers, NaFeEDTA, ferrous bis-glycinate, ferrous gluconate or ferrous sulphate was higher than that in GFB-Fe fortified with electrolytic iron, ferrous lactate or ferric pyrophosphate (P < 0.05). These results are promising for the development of GFB-Fe products in the future.     

Iron or zinc dialyzability obtained from a modified in vitro digestion procedure compare well with iron or zinc absorption from meals

The dialyzability method has been considered a convenient option for screening a large number of samples for iron bioavailability. A new setup that allows the rapid and efficient application of the dialyzability method has been recently proposed. To evaluate the new setup for its applicability in predicting iron and zinc bioavailability, dialyzable iron or zinc were compared with iron or zinc absorption. A series of solutions and meals that have been employed in published studies on iron or zinc absorption were prepared as described in the literature and digested in vitro using the new setup. Dialyzability was measured and correlated with published data on absorption. Iron or zinc dialyzability measured with the proposed setup correlated well with iron or zinc absorption. These results suggest that the new setup can be employed in the future applications for the prediction of iron or zinc bioavailability.     

Determination of phenolic compounds in aromatic plants by RP-HPLC and GC-MS

It is well known that phenolic compounds are constituents of many plants and herbs, and they have attracted a great deal of public and scientific interest because of their health-promoting effects as antioxidants. Five plants, Vitex agnus-castus (Verbenaceae), Origanum dictamnus (Lamiaceae), Teucrium polium (Lamiaceae), Lavandula vera (Lamiaceae) and Lippia triphylla (Verbenaceae), were examined in order to determine their phenolic composition. Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography was employed for the identification and quantification of phenolic compounds. Gas chromatography–mass spectometry(GC-MS) was also used for identification of phenolic compounds after silylation. Analysis of the non-volatile and thermolabile phenolic compounds by GC-MS presupposes their conversion into volatile and thermotolerant derivatives. The derivatization process was optimized against reagents, temperature and reaction time. A large excess of N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide containing trimethylchlorosilane proved to be the best derivatization reagent to convert analytes into volatile trimethylsilyl derivatives. The most abundant phenolic compounds detected were caffeic acid (0.12–0.93 mg 100 g⁻¹ dry sample), ferulic acid (0.34–1.52 mg 100 g⁻¹ dry sample), and (+)-catechin (0.22–0.43 mg 100 g⁻¹ dry sample).     

Triglyceride composition of olive oil,cottonseed oil and their mixtures by low temperature crystallization and gas liquid chromatography

Crystallization and gas liquid chromatography (GLC) have been used to characterize the triglyceride composition of olive and cottonseed oil and their precipitates from acetone or methanol/acetone (10:90, v/v) at −2 C. The precipitate obtained after a 24 hr crystallization of a 5% (w/v) solution of the sample in acetone or methanol/acetone (10:90, v/v) at −2 C was named Precipitate I (P-I); that isolated after 2 successive crystallizations under identical conditions was named Precipitate II (P-II). In each case, the ratio of oleic to linoleic acid (O/L) was calculated and proved to be a useful index for detecting adulteration of olive oil with cottonseed oil. In olive oil, the ratio O/L increased from the original sample to its precipitates, whereas in cottonseed oil and the adulterated samples the ratio O/L was lower in the precipitates than in the original sample. For olive oil P-II, the lowest value of the ratio O/L was 8.4; for the adulterated samples it was 7.6. On the basis of this index, adulteration of olive with cottonseed oil as low as 10% can be detected. Hydrolysis of P-1 by porcine pancreatic lipase and analysis of the fatty acids of the sn-2 position showed that the enrichment factor of linoleic acid varied between 1.11–1.30 for olive oil and between 1.55–1.90 for the adulterated samples. Even for adulteration with 5% cottonseed oil, the enrichment factor appears to increase (1.55–1.57) and can be used as a criterion for adulteration.     

Biosynthesis of lipids and organic acids by Yarrowia lipolytica strains cultivated on glucose

The biochemical behavior of wild‐type or genetically modified (presenting decreased expression of intracellular acyl‐CoA oxidases) Yarrowia lipolytica strains cultivated on commercial glucose was studied. Flask nitrogen‐limited cultures were performed favoring the production of organic acids (and potentially the accumulation of lipid). Nitrogen depletion induced secretion of citric acid, while intracellular lipid was not produced in high quantities. Maximum total citric acid up to 49 g/L (yield 0.85 g/g glucose) was produced. In some of the wild‐type strains, an increase of glucose in the medium also induced noticeable production of acetic acid. Increasing the amount of added glucose led to an increase in the total lipid quantity (%) produced, although in the stationary growth phase the concentration of lipid declined, indicating lipid degradation even for the genetically modified strains. Total lipid amount did not exceed the value of 14%, while neutral fractions increased with increase in glucose concentration. In all cases, the total microbial lipids and major lipid fractions were composed of C₁₆ and C₁₈ (principally unsaturated) fatty acids. Finally, in several of the strains cultured in media containing a low glucose concentration, unicellular morphology was observed, while at high glucose concentrations mycelia were predominant.     

Retention of trans-anethole by gelatine and starch matrices

The retention of trans-anethole by gelatine gels (2.5, 5, 10 and 20 wt.%) and starch solutions (10 and 20 wt.%) was investigated by Static Headspace Gas Chromatography. Prior to analysis the samples were left to equilibrate for 24 h at 5 and 37 °C, respectively. Higher partition coefficients were obtained at the higher temperature, probably due to the increased volatility of the aroma compound. The effect of freeze drying of the matrices in the presence of trans-anethole was also evaluated. No significant effect on the partition coefficient values was observed. However, the changes in the nature and the concentration of the matrix were not of great importance on the retention of trans-anethole.     

Compression of gellan gels. Part I: effect of salts

Gellan gels, in the presence of potassium and calcium ions and their mixtures, were tested using large deformation compression experiments. Characterisation was based on stress and strain at failure along with Young’s modulus. Samples prior to compression were refrigerated at 5 °C for 1, 2 and 24 h. In the case of potassium, the strongest gel was obtained for a cation concentration of 80 mm . Increasing concentrations of calcium resulted in decreased gel strength. Brittleness values for potassium and calcium gels fluctuated around ～0.5 and ～0.3 respectively. The strength for both, potassium and calcium, gels did not increase significantly over time. For each cation, Young’s modulus and stress at failure showed the same variation. In the case of mixtures, strength was determined by calcium as its progressive replacement by potassium was actually similar to reducing its concentration. Potassium determined the remaining properties.     

Identification and quantitative determination of the lipids of dried Origanum dictamnus leaves

The Origanum dictamnus plant was examined for its lipid and fatty acid compositions. A combination of chromatographic techniques has been employed for the qualitative and quantitative determination of the lipids of dried leaves of O. dictamnus. The following polar lipids were identified: mono-, di- and poly-digalactosyl diglycerides, sulpholipids, cerebrosides, phosphatidyl-ethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidic acid. The non-polar lipids identified were sterols, steryl esters, fatty alcohols, free fatty acid, waxes, traces of triglyceride, triterpenic acids and essential oil. The predominant fatty acids were palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids.