Toward an Understanding of the Determinants of Anger.

Research bearing on several popular conceptions of the major determinants of anger arousal indicates that the particular appraisals often identified as causes of anger frequently only serve to affect the intensity of the anger that is generated. Research into effects of physical pain or other physically unpleasant conditions or involving social stresses suggests that decidedly aversive conditions are a major spur to anger. Experiments are also reviewed showing that anger-related muscular movements can also lead to anger-related feelings, memories, cognitions, and autonomic responses. Alternative explanations for the findings are discussed. The authors urge emotion theorists to widen their methodology and analyses so that they give careful, detailed attention to the many different factors that can influence anger. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Microstructure of sputtered epitaxial Ni0.80Fe0.20/NixCO1−xO exchange coupled bilayers on α-Al2O3 (0001)

Epitaxial Ni_0.80Fe_0.20/Ni_xCo_1−xO bilayers have been grown on α-Al₂O₃ (0001) substrates by dc-sputtering X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy have been employed to characterize these exchange-coupled films. The x-ray diffraction spectrum shows only the (111) family of peaks in both Ni_0.80Fe_0.20 and Ni_xCO_1−xO films. Growth orientation relationships have been determined from diffraction patterns taken in planar view and cross section. The relationships are: (111) Ni_0.80Fe_0.20//(111) Ni_xCo_1−xO//(0001) α−Al₂O₃ and [1 0]Ni_0.80FE_0.20//[1 0]Ni_xCo_1-xO//[1 00] α-Al₂O₃. The microstructure of these films as well as the interfacial structure between Ni_0.80Fe_0.20 and Ni_xCo_1−xO have been analyzed in high resolution electron microscopy and are described in this paper. In addition, the dependence of the exchange coupling field on interfacial roughness is discussed.     

Nitrous oxide "analgesia": resemblance to opiate action

Nitrous oxide produced a dose-related "analgesia" in mice (median effective dose, 55 percent). The analgesia was evaluated by means of a phenylquinone writhing test. Narcotic antagonists or chronic morphinization reduced nitrous oxide analgesia. Either nitrous oxide releases an endogenous analgesic or narcotic antagonists have analgesic antagonist properties heretofore unappreciated.     

Co-Fe metal/native-oxide multilayers: a new direction in soft magnetic thin film design I. Quasi-static properties and dynamic response

The progression toward gigahertz data rates in magnetic recording has introduced considerable challenges to soft magnetic materials design. The difficulties lie in satisfying two sets of conflicting demands: 1) simultaneously achieving soft magnetic properties, high saturation magnetization, and a high resistivity, with the latter required to limit eddy-current losses and 2) balancing the inherent tradeoff between bandwidth and permeability imposed by the direct and inverse dependences, respectively, of these two parameters on the anisotropy field. This paper describes a new soft magnetic composite system that meets these requirements: a metal/native-oxide multilayer (MNOM) film consisting of nanogranular high-moment Co/sub x/Fe/sub 100-x/ layers separated by ultrathin magnetic native oxide layers. The high-resistivity magnetic oxide layers isolate the metallic layers electrically, while coupling them magnetically and minimizing the decrease in volume-averaged saturation magnetization that exists in traditional metal/nonmagnetic oxide composites. In addition, the "exchange-averaged" soft magnetic properties of the MNOM composite include an ideal low-dispersion in-plane uniaxial anisotropy whose magnitude varies linearly with the fraction x of Co in the alloy. The resulting anisotropy control, together with the large saturation magnetization, permits the permeability and resonance frequency to be tuned over a wide range to meet specific application requirements.     

Using the community health assessment to screen for continued driving

This project used the interRAI based, community health assessment (CHA) to develop a model for identifying current elder drivers whose driving behavior should be reviewed. The assessments were completed by independent housing sites in COLLAGE, a non-profit, national senior housing consortium. Secondary analysis of data drawn from older adults in COLLAGE sites in the United States was conducted using a baseline assessment with 8042 subjects and an annual follow-up assessment with 3840 subjects. Logistic regression was used to develop a Driving Review Index (DRI) based on the most useful items from among the many measures available in the CHA assessment. Thirteen items were identified by the logistic regression to predict drivers whose driving behavior was questioned by others. In particular, three variables reference compromised decision-making abilities: general daily decisions, a recent decline in ability to make daily decisions, and ability to manage medications. Two additional measures assess cognitive status: short-term memory problem and a diagnosis of non-Alzheimers dementia. Functional measures reflect restrictions and general frailty, including receiving help in transportation, use of a locomotion appliance, having an unsteady gait, fatigue, and not going out on most days. The final three clinical measures reflect compromised vision, little interest or pleasure in things normally enjoyed, and diarrhea. The DRI focuses the review process on drivers with multiple cognitive and functional problems, including a significant segment of potentially troubled drivers who had not yet been publicly identified by others. There is a need for simple and quickly identified screening tools to identify those older adults whose driving should be reviewed. The DRI, based on the interRAI CHA, fills this void. Assessment at the individual level needs to be part of the backdrop of science as society seeks to target policy to identify high risk drivers instead of simply age-based testing.     

Affecting the salience of the social responsibility norm: effects of past help on the response to dependency relationships.

A series of experiments by the authors assumes that many people in our society are motivated to aid others who are dependent upon them because such help is prescribed by a "social responsibility norm." The present study also assumes that prior help can increase the salience of this norm. In a 2 X 2 X 2 factorial design using 80 Ss (college women), ? of the Ss were individually helped by a peer (E's confederate) on a preliminary task, while the others were not aided. After this, the Ss worked on another task under the supposed supervision of yet another peer, with ? of the Ss being told the supervisor was highly dependent upon their work and the others told she was less dependent upon them. The 1st peer would supposedly learn of their work in ? of the cases but not in the other ?. The previously helped Ss tended to exert the greatest effort in behalf of their dependent peer. A self-report scale assessing social responsibility tendencies was significantly correlated with the effort measure in the Prior Help-High Dependency condition. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Acute public health consequences associated with hazardous substances released during transit, 1993-2000

Massive quantities of hazardous substances are transported each day throughout the United States. While most arrive safely at their destination, uncontrolled releases of substances in transit do occur and have the potential of causing acute public health consequences for those individuals at or near the release. Data from 16 state health departments participating in the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's (ATSDR) Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) system were analyzed to determine the public health consequences that occurred from actual releases in transit. Of the 9392 transportation events analyzed, 9.1% resulted in 2008 victims, including 115 deaths. The population groups injured most often were employees and the general public. The most common injury sustained was respiratory irritation. Evacuations were ordered in 5.5% of events effecting at least 63,686 people. Human error and equipment failure were the most common factors leading to events. These findings underscore the importance of job safety training, community planning, and effective emergency response to prevent adverse public health consequences from occurring or lessen their effect on the public.     

Ethical issues involving multifetal pregnancies

Selective termination is a procedure in which an anomalous fetus in a multifetal pregnancy is terminated with the intent of allowing the pregnancy to continue, so that the patient delivers one or more healthy infants at term. Multifetal pregnancy reduction is the elective reduction of three or more fetuses to a smaller number in an attempt to reduce the incidence of premature delivery in these patients. The ethical issues relating to these two procedures are quite different. Data are presented relating to the efficacy and safety of each procedure, and the ethical issues relating to them are discussed.     

Exercise in the treatment of obesity: Effects of four interventions on body composition, resting energy expenditure, appetite, and mood.

This study investigated changes in body composition, resting energy expenditure (REE), appetite, and mood in 128 obese women who were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment conditions: diet alone, diet plus aerobic training, diet plus strength training, or diet combined with aerobic and strength training (i.e., combined training). All women received the same 48-week group behavioral program and were prescribed the same diet. Exercising participants were provided 3 supervised exercise sessions per week for the 1st 28 weeks and 2 sessions weekly thereafter. Participants across the 4 conditions achieved a mean weight loss of 16.5 ±6.8 kg at Week 24, which decreased to 15.1 ±8.4 kg and Week 48. There were no significant differences among conditions at any time in changes in weight or body composition. Women who received aerobic training displayed significantly smaller reductions in REE at Week 24 than did those who received strength training. There were no other significant differences among conditions at any time on this variable or in changes in appetite or mood. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)