Stable Oxygen and Carbon Isotopic Compositions of Lates stappersii Otoliths from Lake Tanganyika,East Africa

In this study, we measured growth trends in oxygen and carbon isotopic ratios in whole sagittal otoliths from three adult centropomid fish (Lates stappersii) from each of three sub-basins of Lake Tanganyika, East Africa. Sampling density was 20 to 50 samples per otolith. Both δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C values increase with age. The δ¹⁸O data suggest that otoliths were precipitated near the expected equilibrium with the ambient environment (ca. +3.5‰) and support a migration pattern from surface waters during larval stages to deeper waters (40 to 80 m) for mature fish. Relatively high δ¹⁸O values in the southern sub-basin are consistent with cooler temperatures in the region during seasonal upwelling. The δ13C increase from otolith core to edge is large (up to 4‰) and is interpreted as due to ontogenetic changes in diet and contributions from a decrease in the proportion of respired CO₂ incorporated into otolith carbonate as metabolic rates of the fish dropped with maturity. The data seem to successfully reveal life strategy and migration patterns of L. stappersii, document regional differences in lake conditions, and provide a record of temperature within the water column during which the fish lived. Higher resolution studies and analyses of historical samples could be used to constrain modern and past growth patterns, and to reconstruct past temperature gradients and productivity patterns in the lake.     

Bodies, antibodies, and neighborhood-density effects in masked form priming.

Facilitatory priming effects due to similarity of orthographic form are obtained for high-N target words provided that they have low-frequency bodies and the body is shared between the prime and target (e.g., perd-HERD). Conversely, it is shown that low-N target words show priming regardless of the frequency of the body, provided that the prime and target do not share the same body (e.g., drice-DRIVE). If the body is shared, then priming occurs only for targets with low-frequency bodies. These results suggest that neighborhood density should be defined in terms of both individual letter units and subsyllabic units and that both types of density jointly determine priming. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The relationship between attachment, psychopathology, and childhood disability.

Analyzes the literature on 3 aspects of attachment—neurobiological influences, interpersonal and intrapersonal factors, and societal factors—in the psychological development of chronically disabled children. Evidence suggests that neurochemical substances such as cortisol and brain biogenic amine systems reciprocally interact with psychological and psychosocial factors to influence attachment. Interpersonal and intrapersonal factors such as temperamental characteristics of children, severity and type of disability, and family influences interact in the process of attachment. Social perceptions and prejudices about the disabled individual increase parental stress, and diminish parental involvement and resources, which are necessary for attachment. These 3 processes are powerful and interrelated forces in child development, with potential to modify social competence, neurological development, and psychosocial adjustment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ignition temperatures of dust layers: Flaming and non-flaming

Combustible dusts, based on tests conducted in the Setchkin Furnace on five representative dusts, are shown to have two distinct layer minimum ignition temperatures, designated MIT_non-flaming and MIT_flaming. The MIT_non-flaming is the one usually reported in the literature; the MIT_flaming is determined by starting at a much higher temperature and working downwards. MIT_flaming can yield a different ranking of dust flammability than MIT_non-flaming. The MIT_flaming appears to be more closely correlated to the MIT of dust clouds and to the test prescribed for flammable solids in the US Code of Federal Regulations than the MIT_non-flaming.     

FLEXIBLE LEASING OPTIONS

How can an IS department continue to meet its business's expanding needs without becoming a warehouse of expensive but outdated computer hardware and software? That is the challenge facing a growing number of businesses, one that is finding a surprisingly economic answer in new, flexible leasing programs.     

Ethics of practice: The beliefs and behaviors of psychologists as therapists.

There is an absence of comprehensive, systematically gathered data concerning psychologists' beliefs about and compliance with ethical principles. Furthermore, we know little about which resources are valued as effective in guiding appropriate behavior. Survey data were collected from 456 APA Division 29 members regarding the degree to which they engaged in each of 83 behaviors and the degree to which they considered each behavior to be ethical. These data were categorized and examined in terms of five principles derived from the Hippocratic oath (avoiding harm, competence, avoiding exploitation, respect, and confidentiality) as well as two additional principles (informed consent; social equity and justice). Twelve of the behaviors were very difficult for participants to evaluate on the basis of ethics. Seven of the 83 behaviors were practiced by over 90% of the participants; 16 by fewer than 10%. Colleagues, the APA Ethical Principles, and internship training were rated as the most helpful resources in guiding behavior; state and federal laws, published research, and local ethics committees were rated least helpful. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Climate for Creativity and Change in Teams

This article reports the results of a study conducted to examine the ability of the Situational Outlook Questionnaire (SOQ^TM) to effectively discern climates that either encourage or discourage creativity and the ability to initiate change in a team setting. The purpose of the study is to examine the concurrent criterion–related validity of the SOQ. The article explores the characteristics in an organisational climate that promote teamwork and some of the tripwires one needs to be aware of in the formation and management of teams. Nine dimensions of the climate for creativity and change as measured by the Situational Outlook Questionnaire are put forward and defined in relation to teams. The methodology and results of the study are reported. The results show that when subjects (N7equals;154) complete the SOQ based on their recollection of a best– and worst–case team experience, the measure is able to consistently and significantly discriminate between the two types of experiences. Conclusions, implications, and areas for future research to further examine the validity of the SOQ are explored.     

Gender differences in evaluations of tobacco and alcohol advertisements.

Examined the relation between gender and reactions to different styles of advertising tobacco and alcohol products among 41 females and 34 males (aged 12–16 yrs) and their parents (39 mothers and 36 fathers). Self-monitoring was also examined as a possible correlate. Ss rated magazine advertisements oriented toward the product's image or qualities. Girls liked image-oriented advertisements more and perceived them to be more persuasive than quality-oriented advertising. This gender difference was not observed among adults. All Ss liked image-oriented more than quality-oriented advertising. Moreover, image-oriented advertisements were seen as more persuasive than quality-oriented advertisements by girls' parents who were high in self-monitoring. Results suggest that girls in early adolescence may be particularly attentive to image-oriented commercials that portray smoking and drinking as desirable behaviors. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Analysis of clinical trial data: The problem of outcome overlap.

The immediate goal of any clinical trial is to determine to which of a specified set of treatments future patients are to be assigned, particularly when analyzing data from clinical trials. When the outcome distributions of Experimental (E) and Control (C) treatments overlap, differences between treatment group means are not conclusive and may not be very informative, so a display of the overlapped frequency distributions and a summary measure of the probability of a random patient in E doing better than a random patient in C are needed. When outcome distributions overlap, the question of statistical model becomes crucial even when there are very significant differences between group means and very large effect sizes. Determining what patient variables interact with treatments is the route to optimal assignment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)