Diversity training in graduate school: An exploratory evaluation of the Safe Zone project.

How can psychologists and graduate students become more affirmative of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues? Safe Zone is a diversity-training program to increase sensitivity toward, knowledge of, and advocacy for LGBT populations and issues that affect them. In this exploratory study, the implementation of Safe Zone is described within a school of professional psychology; its effectiveness was assessed by self-reported behavioral and attitudinal changes and from participant evaluations. Results were encouraging with regard to the goals of Safe Zone and its adaptation to institutions interested in improving relations with the LGBT community, but additional empirical studies are needed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Software for dynamic reconfigurable order picking systems

This paper describes an approach, conceptual framework, and software architecture for dynamic reconfiguration of the order picking system. The research and development project was sponsored by the Material Handling Research Center (MHRC), a National Science Foundation sponsored Cooperative Industry/University Research Center. The storage configuration is assumed to be an in-the-aisle order picking system in which stockkeeping units (SKUs) can occupy variable capacity storage locations and stock-splitting is allowed among zones (clusters). The product mix may include multiple product families with different life cycles, correlated demand within families and commonality of demand across families.     

The Subjective and Reinforcing Effects of Visual and Olfactory Stimuli in Alcohol Drinking.

Nonpharmacological cues associated with drug intake may influence subjective and reinforcing effects of those drugs. Social drinkers (N = 80) participated in 2 sessions in which they rated and then consumed ad lib their preferred beer (with participants blind to brand). Visual and olfactory stimuli were obscured during 1 session (blocked) and not obscured during the other (unblocked). Dependent measures included ratings of "liking", "want another", and "desire to drink"; subjective mood; and ad lib beer consumption (reinforcement). Most ratings and ad lib consumption were lower during the blocked versus the unblocked condition. There were no interactions of blockade condition with sex and no effect of blockade on mood. These findings show that nonpharmacological stimuli associated with alcohol consumption influence alcohol's subjective and reinforcing effects. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Differentiating anxiety and depression in older adults with generalized anxiety disorder.

To examine affect and cognition in differentiating anxiety and depression, 83 older participants with generalized anxiety disorder completed the Cognitive Checklist (CCL) and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). A 3-factor solution was found for the PANAS: positive affect (PA), anxiety and anger (Negative Affect 1 [NA-1]), and guilt and shame (Negative Affect 2 [NA-2]). A 2-factor structure was noted for the CCL. Correlations with anxiety and depression measures suggested that the CCL Depression (CCL-D) subscale showed stronger correlations with depression, whereas the CCL Anxiety subscale did not uniquely correlate with anxiety. The NA-1 subscale correlated positively with measures of depression and anxiety, whereas the PA subscale showed negative correlations. Hierarchical regression suggested that the CCL-D subscale was a significant predictor of self-reported depression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Computing linear approximations to nonlinear neuronal response

We present an approach to obtain nonlinear information about neuronal response by computing multiple linear approximations. By calculating local linear approximations centered around particular stimuli, one can obtain insight into stimulus features that drive the response of highly nonlinear neurons, such as neurons highly selective to a small set of stimuli. We implement this approach based on stimulus-spike correlation (i.e., reverse correlation or spike-triggered average) methods. We illustrate the benefits of these linear approximations with a simplified two-dimensional model and a model of an auditory neuron that is highly selective to particular features of a song.     

Individual characteristics and the intention to continue project escalation

The factors leading to the continuing problems with information system (IS) project failure are of importance to both the research and practitioner communities. The psychological factors that lead project managers to escalate troubled projects are investigated. Theoretical grounding is presented for a research model consisting of Need for Achievement as an antecedent trait for implementation mindset, internal locus of control, preference for consistency, and time urgency, which in turn predict the Intention to Continue a troubled IS project. Using responses from 232 IS project stakeholders, the model is tested using structural equation modeling. The results support Need for Achievement as an antecedent to the other independent variables. Implementation mindset and internal locus of control were found to be significant predictors of the project managers’ intention to continue the IS projects. Based on the findings, suggestions for project re-evaluation milestones (PRMs) are presented.     

The Impact of Information Technology Investment on Enterprise Performance: A Case Study

Investment in information technology is steadily increasing, but many organizations find it difficult to formally assess the value of IT investments because the latter are often incorporated into broad management initiatives. the authors believe that the results of the research study reported on here can help firms to develop a better understanding of the dynamic relationship between IT investment and performance at both the firm and industry levels of analysis. This study clearly demonstrates the importance of adopting an organizational change perspective when assessing the impact of IT investment on firm performance.     

Sterol and steryl ester regulation of phospholipase A2 from the mosquito parasiteLagenidium giganteum

Lagenidium giganteum, a facultative parasite of mosquito larvae, cannot synthesize sterols, and requires an exogenous source of these lipids in order to enter its reproductive cycle. This parasite grows vegetatively in the absence of sterols, but requires cholesterol or structurally related compounds to produce motile zoospores, which are the only stage capable of infecting mosquitoes. Sterols structurally related to cholesterol and some steryl esters inhibited the activity ofL. giganteum phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂), an enzyme that hydrolyzes fatty acids from thesn-2 position of glycerophospholipids. Sterols that induce reproduction inhibitedL. giganteum PLA₂ activity, while sterols and steroids that do not support sporulation had minimal effect. Most steryl esters had no effect on enzyme activity, but cholesteryl arachidonate (CA) was a potent inhibitor of parasite PLA₂. Not all enzymes partly purified using a DEAE-Sephacel column were affected by these lipids, demonstrating selective inhibition of specific enzymes. Potency was enhanced by up to several orders of magnitude if epoxy fatty acids were esterified to the cholesterol nucleus. The steryl ester pool was dynamic during morphogenesis, and the fatty acid composition of the steryl esters did not mimic total cell or membrane (glycerophospholipid) fatty acid composition asL. giganteum proceeded through its growth cycle. Synthesis of CA and monoepoxy CA by the parasite was confirmed using electrospray mass spectrometry and collision-induced dissociation. Steryl derivatives selectively inhibited PLA₂ enzymes from bovine pancreas, snake venom, and human cytoplasmic 85-kDa PLA₂.     

Social recovery of monkeys isolated for the first year of life: I. Rehabilitation and therapy.

Previous research demonstrated that 12 mo of total social isolation initiated at birth produced severe and seemingly permanent social deficits in rhesus monkeys. Such monkeys exhibited self-clasping, self-mouthing, and other stereotypic, self-directed responses. Recent research has indicated that 6-mo-isolated monkeys could develop social behaviors if exposed to younger, socially unsophisticated "therapist" monkeys. In the present experiment, 4 12-mo isolate-reared monkeys developed appropriate species-typical behavior through the use of adaptation, self-pacing of visual input, and exposure to 4 younger "therapist" monkeys. Adaptation enabled the isolate Ss to become familiar with their postisolation environment, while self-pacing facilitated their watching the therapist Ss' social interactions. The isolates showed a marked decrease in self-directed behaviors following extensive intimate contact with the therapists. Species-typical behaviors significantly increased during this period, so that the isolate behavioral repertoire did not differ substantially from the therapist behavioral repertoire by the end of the therapy period. Results clearly fail to support a critical period for socialization in the rhesus monkey, and an alternative environment-specific learning hypothesis is proposed. (25 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Biocompatibility study of three distinct carbon pastes for application as electrode material in neural stimulations and recordings

Neural interfaces hold great promise for research and treatment of a wide variety of neurological diseases. Medical electrodes are designed to interface with the nervous system and provide control signals for neural prostheses. We fabricated previously a hook-up neural electrode. Here we investigate the in vitro cytotoxicity of three commercial carbon pastes used for printing the conductor tracks of this electrode. At first, the carbon pastes were characterized with respect to their microstructure and chemical composition. SEM images showed a grainy texture that is associated to the carbon/graphite microparticles dispersed by the polymeric binder. All the three pastes contained in major proportions carbon and in different proportions other elements. The surface roughness analysis evidenced differences in the smoothness of the carbon paste surfaces. Sterilization procedures did not alter the microstructure or surface morphology of the pastes. Finally, cell viability based on -(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) test and fluorescence staining experiments proved non-cytotoxicity and suitability of the studied carbon pastes as electrode material for measuring neural activity during surgeries (up to a certain time period).