Perceived equity, motivation, and final-offer arbitration in major league baseball.

Final-offer salary arbitration in major league baseball offers a unique institutional arrangement that creates a naturally occurring, non-equivalent-groups, repeated measures research design. The structural arrangements allow for examination of anticipatory expectancy effects and assessment of behavioral responses consistent with equity theory predictions. In addition, equity theory can be tested without the methodological problems inherent in defining the referent other. Performance and mobility were examined for major league baseball position players who won and lost their arbitration hearings. Prearbitration performance significantly predicted arbitration outcome. A significant relationship was noted between losing arbitration and postarbitration performance decline. Losers were significantly more likely to change teams and leave major league baseball. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of test frequency and water content on localized crack-tip heating in nylon-6,6

Fatigue crack propagation (FCP) tests were conducted at various frequencies on nylon-6,6 specimens equilibrated over a range of moisture levels to determine the crack growth rates and the crack-tip temperatures as a function of water content. Frequency-sensitivity was correlated with the amount of crack-tip heating taking place, with crack-tip temperature being found to depend strongly on the estimated loss compliance, D″, of the material. The frequency-sensitivity of FCP in nylon was seen also to be affected by mean stress, suggesting that creep processes are often significant in FCP of nylon.     

Fas (APO-1, CD95)-mediated apoptosis in thyroid cells is regulated by a labile protein inhibitor

To determine whether thyroid cell apoptosis observed in autoimmune thyroid disease could be related to activation of the Fas pathway, we examined the expression and function of Fas on thyroid follicular cells in vitro. Fas messenger RNA was found to be present using two different techniques and was expressed at equal levels in thyrocytes cultured either in the presence or absence of TSH. Fas antigen protein expression was demonstrated by Western blot of thyroid cell lysates and by immunohistochemical staining of thyrocytes, and the amount of Fas protein present did not appear to vary regardless of culture conditions. Despite expressing substantial amounts of Fas protein, thyrocytes treated with anti-Fas monoclonal antibody failed to undergo apoptosis. The addition of either interferon-gamma or interleukin-1beta to the anti-Fas-treated cell cultures also did not promote apoptotic signaling through this pathway. In contrast, the concomitant administration of cycloheximide allowed the induction of apoptosis through the activation of Fas in thyrocytes. These results suggest that Fas is constitutively expressed in thyrocytes, but that the induction of apoptosis through the Fas pathway is blocked by a labile protein inhibitor.     

Effect of hydrogen,restraint and welding conditions on weld metal cold cracking of HSLA steels in the IRC test

The effect of heat input and hydrogen partial pressure of the TIG process without filler wire and of restraining conditions in the IRC test on hydrogen induced cracking have been investigated for weld metals of StE 380, 15 NiCrMo 10 6 (HY 80) and 12 Ni 19. The weld metals are fused from the roots of the plate materials exclusively. The continuously measured combined nominal stresses transverse to the welds are strongly dependent on transformation stress release prior to cold cracking of the respective weld metals. Higher restraints are increasing nominal stresses. Critical heat inputs for prevention of hydrogen weld metal cracking are increased with restraint, hydrogen potentials and carbon contents of the weld metal, 12 Ni 19 revealing no fracture.     

Comparing traditional and integrative learning methods in organizational training programs.

Previous research and anecdotal reports have suggested that when certain teaching approaches are used, students not only learn more but also experience greater satisfaction with the training process. This study examined the effects of integrative-learning (IL)-based training in relation to lecture-based training. Employees enrolled in a 3-day manufacturing resource planning training course were randomly assigned to either IL or traditional training. Ss reacted more favorably to IL-based training. Trained Ss performed significantly better than those in a no-treatment control group, but no differences were noted between training interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Structural elucidation and analysis of thermal degradation products of the Fusarium mycotoxin nivalenol

The major class of mycotoxins produced by Fusarium moulds are trichothecenes, a large group of sesquiterpenes sharing the same basic chemical structure, a 12,13-epoxytrichothec-9-ene ring system. Their toxic effects range from causing diarrhoea, vomiting and gastro-intestinal inflammation to noncompetitive inhibition of the biosynthesis of proteins in eukaryotic cells. Trichothecenes in general are relatively stable compounds, their degradation is observed only at high temperatures and prolonged heating time. In order to investigate the stability of the trichothecene nivalenol (NIV) under food processing conditions such as cooking or baking, we performed model heating experiments and screened the residue for degradation products using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Heating of nivalenol, especially under mild alkaline conditions, gave a mixture of four compounds (norNIV A, norNIV B, norNIV C, and NIV lactone), which where isolated and identified by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and MS experiments. Although their formation was also demonstrated in heating experiments with spiked flour samples, only norNIV B was detectable in a screening of several commercially available samples, possibly due to the very low contamination with nivalenol. Furthermore, cell culture experiments using immortalized human kidney epithelial (IHKE) cells showed that the four compounds are less cytotoxic (formazan dye cytotoxicity assay) compared to nivalenol. Whereas nivalenol revealed an EC50 at 0.9 micromol, all other compounds did not show any significant effect up to 100 micromol.     

Succinic Acid Production in Fed‐Batch Fermentation of Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens Using Glycerol as Carbon Source

Considering glycerol as an inexpensive alternative carbon source, the optimal glycerol concentration for succinic acid production with Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens was identified in shake‐flask trials. The addition of a defined amount of glucose improved the growth and succinic acid productivity significantly. In fed‐batch processes with glycerol as sole substrate, a maximum succinic acid concentration and product substrate yield were obtained. The addition of glucose led to a 2.5‐fold increased succinic acid concentration whereas the product substrate yield remained nearly constant.     

Effects of work values on job choice decisions.

Work values have been receiving increased research attention. E. C. Ravlin, B. M. Meglino, and their associates have recently conceptualized and provided measurement of work values. Although the effects of work values on job satisfaction, commitment, and individual decision making have been studied, work values have not been explicitly linked to job choice decisions. Using a sample of professional degree students and a policy-capturing design, the authors examined the influence of organizational work values on job choice in the context of job attributes that have been shown to affect this decision process. Organizational work values significantly affected job choice decisions. Individuals were more likely to choose jobs whose value content was similar to their own value orientation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Preliminary report on the effects of propolis on wound healing in the dental pulp

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the antimicrobial and healing potential of propolis on direct dental pulp exposures. This study used 25 adult male rats. Pulp exposures were performed and animals were allocated to propolis and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2 groups. Animals were killed on days 5, 7, 10, and 14. The teeth were routinely processed for histological evaluation. Non-parametric tests were employed to analyze the data. No significant differences were found between study groups on the wound healing of the dental pulp. Both substances were comparable in exhibiting normal reorganization of the pulp and no increased vascularity, and were equally efficacious in maintaining a low inflammatory and microbial cell population as well as in stimulating the formation of reparative dentin.