Thirty years later: Attitudes toward the employment of older workers.

Replicated W. K. Kirchner and M. D. Dunnette's (see record 1955-03161-001) study on attitudes toward older workers with 71 male and 5 female hourly employees (aged 18–61 yrs) and 22 male supervisors (aged 27–63 yrs) of a nonunion manufacturing plant. Ss completed a questionnaire that was nearly identical to the one administered in the Kirchner and Dunnette study. Results are similar to those obtained in the earlier study: Hourly workers held more positive attitudes toward older employees than did supervisors, and attitude score correlated strongly with the age of hourly workers but not with the age of supervisors. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evaluation of the tamper-resistant properties of biphasic immediate-release/extended-release oxycodone/acetaminophen tablets

Context: Abuse potential of extended-release (ER) opioid tablets increases if tampering causes rapid opioid release.

Objective: To evaluate the susceptibility to tampering of biphasic immediate-release (IR)/ER oxycodone (OC)/acetaminophen (APAP) tablets compared with IR OC/APAP tablets.

Materials and methods: IR/ER OC/APAP and IR OC/APAP tablets were tested at room temperature and after heating, freezing and microwaving. Resistance to crushing was tested using manual and powered tools (e.g. spoons, mortar and pestle, blender, coffee grinder). Tampered tablets were tested for suitability for snorting, OC extraction in solvents and ease of drawing into a syringe. Dissolution of IR/ER OC/APAP in gastric fluid with and without ethanol was tested to determine the potential for facilitating precipitous release of opioid from the tablet.

Results: IR/ER OC/APAP tablets were more crush resistant than IR OC/APAP tablets. Heating, freezing and microwaving had no effect on crush resistance of IR/ER OC/APAP tablets. Although a mortar and pestle pulverized IR/ER OC/APAP tablets, upon contact with solvent, the powder formed a thick gel judged unsuitable for absorption through the nasal mucosa and could not be drawn into a syringe. In contrast, powder from crushed IR OC/APAP tablets dissolved readily, was judged suitable for snorting, and was easily drawn into a syringe. Dissolution of IR/ER OC/APAP tablets in gastric fluid was slowed by the addition of ethanol.

Discussion: IR/ER OC/APAP tablets are resistant to crushing and dissolution compared with IR OC/APAP tablets.

Conclusion: IR/ER OC/APAP tablets may have less potential for abuse involving tampering compared with IR OC/APAP tablets.     

Quantitative biology of single neurons

The building blocks of complex biological systems are single cells. Fundamental insights gained from single-cell analysis promise to provide the framework for understanding normal biological systems development as well as the limits on systems/cellular ability to respond to disease. The interplay of cells to create functional systems is not well understood. Until recently, the study of single cells has concentrated primarily on morphological and physiological characterization. With the application of new highly sensitive molecular and genomic technologies, the quantitative biochemistry of single cells is now accessible.     

Isomeric Carborane Neuromuscular Blocking Agents

We synthesized a family of neuromuscular blocking agents (NMB) based on decamethonium, but containing a carborane cluster in the methylene chain between the two quaternary ammonium groups. The carborane cluster isomers o-NMB, m-NMB, and p-NMB were tested in animals for neuromuscular block and compared with agents used clinically: rocuronium and decamethonium. All three isomers caused reversible muscle weakness in mice as determined by grip strength and inverted screen tests, with a potency rank of p-NMB > rocuronium > decamethonium > m-NMB > o-NMB. The mechanism of action of the compounds was determined by using the in vitro rat phrenic nerve hemi-diaphragm preparation and electrophysiologic measurements in cells. Neostigmine reversed hemi-diaphragm weakness caused by the three isomers and rocuronium, but not succinylcholine. In electrophysiologic recordings of currents through acetylcholine receptor channels, the carborane compounds did not activate channel activity but did inhibit channel activation by acetylcholine. These results demonstrate that the carborane neuromuscular blocking agents are non-depolarizers in contrast to the depolarizing action of the parent compound.     

Team negotiation and perceptions of trustworthiness: The whole versus the sum of the parts.

In a team negotiation context, the authors empirically explored how judgments of team-level trust are derived from individual-level trust. Basing their argument on both the negativity bias and the discontinuity effect, the authors posit that people will focus most on the least trustworthy individual member of a team when making judgments about collective team-level trust. Findings from two studies demonstrate that perceptions of team trust are indeed lower than the average ratings of individual trust and are statistically equivalent to the least trusted member. In addition, compared with average individual trust levels, perceptions of collective team trust were found to be more predictive of (a) impasse rates in distributive negotiations and (b) the level of joint gain in integrative negotiations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Global ESRD Costs Associated with a Short Daily Hemodialysis Program in the United States

In spite of the growing evidence that daily hemodialysis (DHD) improves clinical outcomes and quality of life, the additional dialysis costs are not currently reimbursed in the United States. Nor have there been reports of the effects of DHD on end-stage renal disease (ESRD) global costs, which would help predict the financial impact of DHD on the ESRD program. Since 1996, 22 patients (20 in-center, 2 home) have switched from conventional thrice-weekly dialysis to short, daily dialysis with six treatments per week. Eighteen patients started for medical indications, and four started for nonmedical reasons. Causes of ESRD were the following: diabetes mellitus (6), hypertension (4), glomerulonephritis (6), hereditary (2), and other (4). Mean age was 56 ± 16 years. Patients had an average of 3.3 major comorbidities. Weekly conventional HD dialysis times were divided into six DHD treatments, each 2.0 ± 0.3 hours. Weekly Kt/V remained unchanged. Twenty-two patients were followed on DHD for 220 patient-months: 7 patients died after 1.8 ± 1.3 months, 2 were transplanted at 4.3 ± 3.2 months, and 2 discontinued DHD at 3.6 ± 4.8 months. Eleven patients remain on DHD at 17.4 ± 8.3 months. Actual costs per extra dialysis session are as follows: $14.30 for supplies and $3.20 for labor for setup/cleanup time (15 minutes at $12.80/hour). Annualized DHD savings are based on comparison of doses of epoetin alpha (Epogen) and blood pressure medication at the start and after 12 months of DHD. Hospitalization rates include all enrolled patients, comparing rates for the 12 months prior to DHD with the first year on DHD, or annualized rates for those on DHD less than one year. Cost assumptions are $9/ 1000 U Epogen, $1/blood pressure pill, and $1200/per day of hospitalization. Extra transportation costs were covered by the patients. No increased access problems were observed. For patients on short DHD longer than 12 months, supply and labor costs increased to $2733/patient/year; however, Epogen use was reduced 55%, and blood pressure medications were reduced 40%. For all patients who switched to DHD, hospitalization rates were reduced 24%. This resulted in a net savings of about $4241/patient/ year after 12 months on DHD. Overall ESRD costs were substantially decreased on DHD. These cost savings must be passed on to providers before DHD becomes more widely available.     

The finer points of lying online: E-mail versus pen and paper.

The authors present 3 experimental studies that build on moral disengagement theory by exploring lying in online environments. Findings indicate that, when e-mail is compared with pen and paper communication media (both of which are equal in terms of media richness, as both are text only), people are more willing to lie when communicating via e-mail than via pen and paper and feel more justified in doing so. The findings were consistent whether the task assured participants that their lie either would or would not be discovered by their counterparts. Implications for theory and practice are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

National curriculum in Australia? A matter of politics, powerful knowledge and the regulation of learning

This article maps the contentious question of 'national curriculum' in Australia. It explains both why there is no national (i.e. Australian) curriculum, and analyses the history of curriculum formation with a view to documenting the changing significance and status of 'national' (i.e. nation-building) curriculum. The analysis is informed by an historical sociology perspective which begins by considering curriculum in relation to the national question in Australia and then moves on to examine the role of curriculum in the contemporary re-design of education as a social institution and a regulatory device within the Australian national jurisdiction.     

Cut order planning for apparel manufacturing

Cut order planning is the problem of planning the fabric cut for a set of apparel orders. A specified set of garments is ordered by the customer to be produced by a given date. Affiliated with this order is a set of garment sizes, and patterns for cutting each size. The fabric for cutting the order must be arranged on the cutting table in such a way as to minimize the cost of cutting the order. This plan must incorporate a partition of the pattern pieces to be arranged on top of the fabric layout. A mathematical model of the problem is developed and analyzed. On the basis of this analysis, solution approaches are developed that have been implemented on a desktop PC-based computer. Validated on representative industry problems, the approach is shown to be effective and versatile.     

A Dramatic Method to Demonstrate Concurrent Engineering in the Classroom

Conceptualizing concurrent engineering is an easy task for students, usually. However, they find it difficult to understand the forces preventing concurrent engineering from being supported. In fact, concurrent engineering can seem like common sense, until students experience this exercise. After the exercise, students often have a much greater appreciation for the difficulties and the degree of advantage posed by the use of concurrent engineering.