Plant respirometer enables high resolution of oxygen consumption rates

Plant respirometer permits high resolution of relatively small changes in the rate of oxygen consumed by plant organisms undergoing oxidative metabolism in a nonphotosynthetic state. The two stage supply and monitoring system operates by a differential pressure transducer and provides a calibrated output by digital or analog signals

A study of psychrophilic organisms isolated from the manufacture and assembly areas of spacecraft to be used in the Viking mission

The effect of storage of dry heat treated Teflon ribbons under nitrogen gas followed by high vacuum on the recovery of hardy organisms from the ribbons was studied. A similar experiment was performed on spore crops of hardy organisms recovered previously from Cape Canaveral. Hardy organisms have been inoculated onto slides and subjected to an artificial Martian environment in an attempt to demonstrate their growth in this environment. Additional experiments using the artificial Martian environment include response of soil samples from the VAB with both constant temperature and freeze-thaw cycles. These experiments were performed with dried soil and soil containing added water. Other investigations included the effect of heatshock on soil samples, psychrophilic counts of new soil samples from the manufacture area of the Viking spacecraft, effect of pour plate versus spread plate on psychrophilic counts, and preparation of spore crops of hardy organisms from Cape Canaveral

Response of selected microoganisms to experimental planetary environments

A microbial population profile of mixed Cape Canaveral soil samples is presented. During this investigation a few organisms were isolated which exhibit the ability to grow at 3 C, 32 C, and 55 C. Growth curves are shown for three of these isolates, one of which grows extremely well at all three temperatures. Also included are studies dealing with growth of soil populations at zero and subzero temperatures. Results indicate growth at 0 C and -5 C, but not at 15 C or -65 C. The effect of storage temperature on dry soil is presented, and results show that psychrophilic populations decrease when soil is stored at room temperature, but do not decrease when soil is stored at -65 C. Results of an experiment with the simulated Martian environment are presented and indicate that nonsporeforming rods, sporeforming rods, and cocci can reproduce in the simulated environment when nutrients and moisture are supplied. The sporeforming rods are the predominant suvivors when dry soil is subjected to this environment

Magnetomotive metal working device Patent

Portable magnetomotive hammer for metal workin

Dispositional Hardiness and Women’s Well-Being Relating to Gender Discrimination: The Role of Minimization

Three studies examined whether personality-based hardiness would be associated with mental health benefits in contexts of gender discrimination. Hardy women encountering both a laboratory simulation and a hypothetical scenario of discrimination showed greater self-esteem and less negative affect than low hardy women. However, these benefits were mediated by the use of specific attributions, suggesting that the well-being in hardy women may have been achieved through minimizing the pervasiveness of discrimination. Study three showed this mediation pattern occurred only for participants exposed to higher threat scenarios versus lower threat scenarios of discrimination. Thus, minimizing the pervasiveness of discrimination may have been a threat-reducing tool for high hardy women. Bandura’s (1997) self-efficacy theory was used as a possible explanation for this finding

Employers' policies for third age employment – the case for action and the rational for reaction

This paper reports on findings from a study which explores employers’ perceptions of the careers of those in third age employment and the extent to which these organisations have in place policies and practices to manage older worker careers. Drawing on interviews with UK HR managers and advisory bodies, the study finds that there was an absence of formal policies which addressed the career needs of older works despite employers being aware of the issue associated with an aging workforce. Instead employers responded to career related requests from older workers on an ad hoc basis as they felt that specific policies for this group of people would potentially create legal issues for the organisation. Employers also believed that the aged workforce had little impact on their business and as a result did not engage in collective dialogue with older workers about their requirements and instead made assumptions about their career needs

Maximising women's potential in the UK's retail sector

Purpose – A defining characteristic of the UK retail sector is the high number of women it employs but there remains an enduring under-representation of women in its management positions. The majority of women in the industry work part-time and this paper explores the factors that impact upon the career progression. Approach – One thousand questionnaires were completed by store staff in three leading retailers supported by interviews with store staff and SME retailers in the UK’s East Midlands region. Findings – The study revealed continuing barriers to career progression for women working part-time in retailing. Despite family friendly employment policies becoming an increasingly important feature of modern work organisations, career progression was informed by a traditional concept of a career based on full-time working. Research Limitations - the study was limited to one sector, there is a need for further studies into women’s career progression in other sectors reliant on female employment. Practical implications - the findings have implications for promotion policies, training and development provision and line management practices if retailers are to maximise the potential of the women they employ. Originality/Value – The findings, based on both quantitative and qualitative data, suggest that retailing is an industry where a significant number of women are working below their potential despite organisational policies supportive of diversity and equality of opportunity