Ordinal position differences in children's family interactions.

The purpose of this study was to compare the interactions of oldest and youngest children with parents and siblings. Twenty first-born and 17 last-born children between the ages of 4 and 8 from two- or three-child families were selected from a larger sample for this study. Their interactions at home with other family members were observed and coded. Oldest children emitted more of their total behaviors to parents than to siblings, whereas last-born children did not differ significantly in the total number of behaviors emitted to the two family member groups. When the incidence of individual behavior categories was examined, no significant main effect due to ordinal position was found; however, a significant interaction of ordinal position with family member group for some behaviors was found. Both parents and siblings emitted similar levels of prosocial responses toward oldest and last-born children. However, oldest children were more likely to be the recipient of negative responses from parents and siblings than were last-born children of the same age. Implications of these findings for understanding the influence of ordinal position on social behavior are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Investigation of boundary‐layer wind predictions during nocturnal low‐level jet events using the Weather Research and Forecasting model

The accuracy of boundary‐layer wind profiles occurring during nocturnal low‐level jet (LLJ) events, and their sensitivities to variations of user‐specifiable model configuration parameters within the Weather Research and Forecasting model, was investigated. Simulations were compared against data from a wind‐profiling lidar, deployed to the Northern Great Plains during the U.S. Department of Energy‐supported Weather Forecast Improvement Project. Two periods during the autumn of 2011 featuring LLJs of similar magnitudes and durations occurring during several consecutive nights were selected for analysis. Simulated wind speed and direction at 80 and 180 m above the surface, the former a typical wind turbine hub height, bulk vertical gradients between 40 and 120 m, a typical rotor span, and the maximum wind speeds occurring at 80 and 180 m, and their times of occurrence, were compared with the observations. Sensitivities of these parameters to the horizontal and vertical grid spacing, planetary boundary layer and land surface model physics options, and atmospheric forcing dataset, were assessed using ensembles encompassing changes of each of these configuration parameters. Each simulation captured the diurnal cycle of wind speed and stratification, producing LLJs during each overnight period; however, large discrepancies in relation to the observations were frequently observed, with each ensemble producing a wide range of distributions, reflecting highly variable representations of stratification during the weakly stable overnight conditions. Root mean square error and bias values computed over the LLJ cycle (late evening through the following morning) revealed that, while some configurations performed better or worse in different aspects and at different times, none exhibited definitively superior performance. The considerable root mean square error and bias values, even among the ‘best’ performing simulations, underscore the need for improved simulation capabilities for the prediction of near‐surface winds during LLJ conditions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sibling status effects: Adult expectations.

Investigated expectations or beliefs held by 278 adults (average age 25.3 yrs) about a child based on his or her sibling status alone. Ss were asked to describe what they would expect a child without brothers or sisters, a child who was the oldest in his or her family, and a child who was the youngest in his or her family to be like. Ss seemed to have higher expectations for and give more positive ratings to oldest children than to only or youngest children. The ordinal position and parental status of the S also had an effect on the ratings given. Ss who were youngest children and Ss who were only children tended to show some bias toward their own sibling group; Ss who were oldest children actually gave their own sibling status lower group ratings than did other Ss. Ss with children tended to give higher ratings to all 3 sibling groups than did Ss without children. Results are discussed in terms of how these expectations may develop and their effects on the child's development. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Using animation to support the teaching of computer game development techniques

In this paper, we examine the potential use of animation for supporting the teaching of some of the mathematical concepts that underlie computer games development activities, such as vector and matrix algebra. An experiment was conducted with a group of UK undergraduate computing students to compare the perceived usefulness of animated and static learning materials for teaching such concepts. Undergraduate computer game development courses are currently a growing area of UK higher education. Computer game development can often involve the use of mathematical modelling of two-dimensional and three-dimensional computer game objects and their interactions. Overall, it appeared that animated learning materials appeared to be perceived as being more useful to undergraduate computer games students than traditional learning materials for learning such concepts.     

Manifest anxiety as a contributing factor in religious conversion.

Investigated the relationship between manifest anxiety and religious conversion. 3 groups of 20 residents in a predominantly Protestant town were identified by the community's 2 ministers: (a) Ss having had a sudden religious conversion experience, (b) Ss having had a more gradual religious development, and (c) Ss who were not religious at all. The MA scale was administered to the members of each group. Group b and Group c did not differ significantly from each other on manifest anxiety, but Group a obtained significantly higher scores on the MA scale than the other 2 groups combined. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Uterine fluid irrigation and absorption in hysteroscopic endometrial ablation

OBJECTIVE: To compare two techniques of irrigation flow control with regard to risk of absorption of uterine irrigation fluid during operative hysteroscopy. METHODS: We compared two techniques of uterine irrigation fluid outflow management-passive gravity outflow and direct connection of the outflow to wall suction-in a randomized controlled trial involving 40 women undergoing hysteroscopic endometrial ablation. The amount of fluid absorbed by each subject was calculated, as were operating time, uterine size, and endometrial pharmacologic preparation. Endometrial thickness and operator view were graded visually by the surgeon. RESULTS: The median (range) amount of irrigation fluid absorbed was 450 mL (0-2300) in the group in which passive gravity outflow was used and 0 mL (700 mL excess outflow to 300 mL absorption) in the group in which direct connection of the outflow to wall suction was used (P < .001). None of the other variables that might have influenced uterine irrigation fluid absorption (operating time, uterine size, pharmacologic endometrial preparation, or endometrial thickness) differed between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Connecting the outflow of the uterine irrigation system to wall suction is a simple and effective method of reducing the risk of fluid absorption during endometrial ablation.     

Immediate management of the airway during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a hospital without a resident anaesthesiologist

The effect of withdrawing the resident anaesthesiologist from the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) team was audited over a 1-year period in a 407-bed hospital in which nurses had been trained in the use of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) as a first response airway in CPR. The data were compared to those of the previous year, which are shown in parentheses. During the audit period, there were 115 (79) calls to 115 (79) patients; the immediate airway was secured using a mask bag valve assembly in 75 (49) episodes, the Laerdal pocket mask in 2 (2) episodes, the LMA in 64 (2) and the endotracheal tube in 20 (57). Return of spontaneous circulation occurred in 61% (36%). There were no instances of failure to maintain the immediate airway during the audit period. Initial results suggest that an anaesthesiologist may not be essential for the provision of an immediate airway in patients requiring CPR.     

Interview decisions as determined by competency and attitude similarity.

Asked 51 college students to assume that they worked for a large company and that the president had asked them to evaluate a candidate for a position as a vice president. The target's dossier and information concerning 10 of his attitudes were given to Ss as stimuli for the evaluation. 3 levels of the target's competency and 2 levels of attitude similarity between the S and the target were varied in a 3 * 2 design to examine their effects on subsequent job recommendations and suggested salaries. Similarity tended to influence the recommendation and significantly influenced salary. Competency significantly influenced both the recommendation and salary. Implications for industry are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)