Zen meditation and behavior self-control: Similarities, differences, and clinical applications.

Studies the behaviors involved in 2 self-control strategies: Zen meditation and behavioral self-management. The first technique is derived from the Eastern "religious-philosophical" tradition of Zen Buddhism; the other is derived from Western laboratory and field settings and is based on social learning theory. Using naturalistic observation and experimental analysis, Zen breath meditation is conceptualized as a sequence of behaviors involving certain cues and consequences, and thereby under explicit contingency arrangements. Behavioral self-management techniques are similarly analyzed, and results of these analyses are compared and contrasted. After briefly reviewing the clinical outcome literature for both strategies, it is concluded that rehabilitative and preventive benefits may be gained from a combination of the 2 techniques. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

PROJECTION MODULUS: A NEW DIRECTION FOR SELECTING SUBSET AUTOREGRESSIVE MODELS

Selecting a parsimonious subset autoregressive time series model is a valuable objective particularly where there is or may be evidence that a time series may have some form of periodic or quasi-periodic behaviour. An efficient model selection procedure is essential because of the large number of possible alternative models involved. The explanation of an increase in residual variance due to excluding a lag is examined in Hilbert space. As a result, a new statistic, the projection modulus , and its derivatives are developed to assess the significance of any lag in a model. The impact of deleting a lag, as measured by these statistics, helps to produce a selection procedure where true lags have less chance of being removed. We then assess an efficient subset autoregressive model selection procedure employing these statistics. The success of the proposed procedure is illustrated by its efficiency in identifying the true model for simulated and real data.     

Two-Dimensional Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Studies of Starch and Starch Products

The use of two-dimensional Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy as applied to studies of starch, starch products and glycogen is reported. The use of both homonuclear correlation (COSY, relay-COSY and HOHAHA) and heteronuclear correlation (HMQC, HETCOR) experiments is discussed. This approach makes it possible to obtain complete assignments of the proton NMR spectra of these polysaccharides. This is not possible from 1-D spectra due to excessive overlap of the non-anomeric proton signals. The resulting assignments are useful in obtaining structural information regarding starch and related products. Moreover, the greater inherent resolution of the two-dimensional spectra can reveal the presence of low molecular weight carbohydrates (glucose, maltose etc.) in dextrin samples, thus providing information about carbohydrate composition.     

Patterns of Iridoid Glycoside Production and Induction in Plantago lanceolata and the Importance of Plant Age

Induction of allelochemicals is one way that plants efficiently deploy defenses against herbivory. In two separate experiments we investigated the time course of this inductive response and the importance of the timing of herbivory for Plantago lanceolata (Plantaginaceae). We found a localized induced response of catalpol and the ratio of catalpol to total iridoid glycosides in damaged leaves that was evident at d 6 after caterpillars of the specialist Junonia coenia were put onto the plants. On the whole plant level, we detected small, but significant changes in the iridoid glycoside metabolism of P. lanceolata on several different days following herbivory. We also found considerable change in the amounts of allelochemicals produced during P. lanceolata's ontogeny. This ontogenetic effect might help to explain some of the reasons why induction may be difficult to detect in P. lanceolata. We also investigated the importance of the timing of herbivory on P. lanceolata's inductive response, but neither herbivory after 5 wk of growth nor after 6 or 7 wk of growth induced an increase in aucubin or catalpol.     

Do Enemies of Herbivores Influence Plant Growth and Chemistry? Evidence from a Seminatural Experiment

It is predicted that enemies of insect herbivores may influence the effects of herbivores on their host plants by affecting the choice of plant genotypes. To examine the effect of predators, we conducted two experiments, each with a different caterpillar species (Junonia coenia and Pyrrharctia isabella). Under seminatural conditions, we provided a choice between two genotypes of plantain (Plantago lanceolata) with different levels of iridoid glycosides and used Podisus maculiventris stinkbugs as predators. There were four treatments: no herbivores and no predators, low density of herbivores and no predators, high density of herbivores and no predators, and high density of herbivores plus predators. The caterpillars had little effect on plant growth but did influence the iridoid glycoside concentration. For the Junonia experiment, the concentration of iridoid glycosides was less for plots with a low density of caterpillars (with no predators) compared to the other treatments of caterpillar density. In the Pyrrharctia experiment, catalpol was induced by a high density of caterpillars (with no predators). There were no increases in total iridoid glycosides associated with either herbivore species. The presence of predators had no effect on plant growth or total iridoid glycoside pattern. The lack of effect by predators seems to reflect the relatively large variation in iridoid glycoside concentration among leaf ages, and the herbivores ability to respond to that variation, such that the difference in iridoid glycoside concentrations in the plant genotypes was less important.     

Iridoid glycosides ofChelone glabra (Scrophulariaceae) and their sequestration by larvae of a sawfly,Tenthredo grandis (Tenthredinidae)

Analysis ofChelone glabra (Scrophulariaceae) by gas chromatography showed that leaves of this plant contained primarily the iridoid glycoside catalpol, and in a few individuals some aucubin was also detected. There was no difference in the iridoid glycoside content of damaged compared to undamaged plants, nor was there a difference between plants collected from a population in Leverett, Massachusetts, and those from plants in an experimental garden in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Larvae and prepupae of the sawfly,Tenthredo grandis (Tenthredinidae) contained catalpol sequestered from the larval host plant. The exuvia also contained catalpol, whereas the frass contained only aucubin. These results indicate that larvae of this sawfly selectively sequester catalpol, eliminating the aucubin in the frass.     

Relationship between self-report and log data estimates of information system usage

Self-report estimates of frequency and duration of computer use are used extensively in research related to computer and information systems acceptance. Despite concerns that self-report estimates are inferior to computer log data there is a paucity of research investigating the relationship between self-report and log data measures of computer use. The present study compared self-report estimates and six months of electronic log data for 62 health care workers using a new Community Services Information System. There were moderate to strong correlations between the self-report and electronic log estimates of frequency and duration of system use. Self-report estimates were relatively accurate in that they were quite similar in magnitude to log data values. The merits of combinations of frequency and duration data (composites) were also assessed.     

Occupational differences in computer-related anxiety: implications for the implementation of a computerized patient management information system

The present investigation was concerned with the implementation of an information system within a health care setting. A large number of staff required training on a new patient management information system (MIS). The aim of this study was to assess occupational differences on a number of psychological variables associated with MIS success. Computer anxiety was of primary concern due to its relationship to avoidance of computers. A total of 175 questionnaires were distributed, with 103 questionnaires being completed and returned for analysis (61.1%). It was found that clerical/administrative staff had significantly higher self-efficacy regarding computer use and more experience with computers. The nursing group experienced significantly more, computer anxiety, negative attitudes, and negative expectations than the clerical group. Self-efficacy was found to be the best predictor of computer related anxiety. The results have implications for MIS implementation strategies particularly in the areas of training and resource allocation.     

Preparation and X-ray characterization of CsAlSiO4

A systematic study of the preparation of CsAlSiO₄ using various cesium oxide, alumina, and silica sources and a typical set of firing conditions was performed. The objective was to determine effective methods of preparing phase-pure CsAlSiO₄. The reaction of Cs₂CO₃ with metakaolin at 600°C (decomposition and calcining), 850°C (prefiring) and 1050°C (crystallization) produced the only phase-pure CsAlSiO₄ obtained by these methods. None of the eighteen sets of starting materials yielded a phase-pure CsAlSiO₄ in the 1100°C and 1200°C firings. CsAlSiO₄ was determined to be isomorphous with RbAlSiO₄ as reported by Klaska and Jarchow (1). CsAlSiO₄ is orthorhombic with lattice parameters of $\text{a}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>o</mtext>}}\text{= 8.907 (2)}\text{A}\text{?}\text{,}\text{b}{}_{\mathrm{o}}\text{= 9.435(1)}\text{A}\text{?}\text{,}\text{and}\text{c}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>o</mtext>}}\text{= 5.435(1)}\text{A}\text{?}$. The space group is Pna2₁, with Z = 4. Single crystals of CsAlSiO₄ were grown hydrothermally from a lCs₂O:1Al₂O₃:2SiO₂ gel in a 3M CsOH solution. The reaction conditions were 770°C and 11, 700 psi. The crystal habit of CsAlSiO₄ is needle-like.     

Improvement of power supply EMC by chaos

The authors demonstrate the feasibility of using chaos to depress the spectral peaks of the interference from a switched mode power supply. A boost converter is used to show experimentally that the spectrum of the input current is spread, its peaks are reduced and EMC is improved, compared to the case when the circuit is operating periodically