John A. Wilhelm

A psychometric analysis of the Personal Attributes Questionnaire

The psychometric properties of the Personal Attributes Questionnaire were examined in independent samples of male and female high school students, college students, and adults. In each of the six samples a two-factor structure (masculinity/instrumentality and femininity/expressivity) paralleling the empirically derived scales was found. Additional factor analyses of negative masculine and feminine traits were reported. Discriminant analyses revealed highly significant differentiation between the sexes. The reliabilities (Cronbach alpha) of the unit-weighted scales in each sample were also satisfactory.

The structure of cockpit management attitudes.

A revised version of the Cockpit Management Attitudes Questionnaire (CMAQ) is introduced. Factor analyses of responses from 3 different samples reveal comparable factor structure (previous attempts to factor analyze this measure had produced equivocal results). Implications for the measurement of attitudes and the assessment of attitude change are discussed. It is argued that the CMAQ will benefit both special training programs and efforts to explore attitude-performance linkages in air-transport operations.

Nucleolar and extranucleolar chromatin of rat Novikoff hepatoma cells: Separation and partial characterization of RNA polymerase activities

Abstract The endogenous DNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity of rat ascites nucleoli was characterized in situ and compared with the activity assayed in whole nuclei and extranucleolar chromatin. Optimal activity of the nucleolar polymerase required Mg2+ and low salt concentrations (0.08–0.10 M NaCl or 0.04 M (NH4)2SO4). High salt (0.3–0.5 M NaCl or 0.3–0.4 M (NH4)2SO4) inhibited the nucleolar polymerase activity but was stimulatory in whole nuclei and extranucleolar chromatin. The response of the nucleolar RNA polymerase to salt has some similarities to the bacterial polymerase system and suggests an enzyme pool not associated with the DNA template in nucleoli.

Nucleolar and extranucleolar chromatin of rat Novikoff hepatoma cells: A comparison of histone and non-histone protein acetylation

Abstract Histone acetylation was studied in two nuclear subfractions, nucleoli and the nuclear chromatin, which have substantially different transcriptional activity. The quantitative uptake and turnover of [1-14C]acetate into the total histone was found not to differ significantly between the two nuclear fractions. Some variations among the relative specific activities of the individual histones were observed after analysis on acrylamide gels, but their significance is questionable due to possible changes in the F3 dimer/monomer ratio induced by the isolation of histones. All histone fractions were labeled when rat ascites cells were exposed to 3H-labeled amino acids for 1.5 h. In a similar 1.5-h experiment, [1-14C]acetate was incorporated primarily into the arginine-rich histones F3 and F2a1; the lysine-rich F1 was unlabeled. Thus, the acetylation observed in these experiments occurred predominantly on pre-formed histone molecules. Nonhistone chromosomal proteins were acetylated to about 25 % of the specific activity of the histones. Only minor differences in the extent of histone acetylation in the isolated nucleoli as compared with nuclear chromatin indicate that histone acetylation is not directly related to the amount of active template in these nuclear subfractions.

Robert (Bob) L. Helmreich (1937-2012).

Presents an obituary for Robert (Bob) L. Helmreich (1937-2012). Helmreich was born April 29, 1937, in Kansas City, Missouri, the only son of Ralph and Caroline Helmreich. Bob received his undergraduate degree from Yale University in 1959. He immediately enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served for four years. Upon his retirement from the service he was executive officer of the USS Decatur (DD-936). Perhaps it was his service in the Navy that sparked his lifelong professional interest in how people work together in teams to accomplish technically precise goals. He returned to Yale University to obtain a doctor of philosophy degree in social psychology under Barry Collins. Bob joined the faculty at The University of Texas at Austin as an assistant professor in 1966 and remained on the faculty in the Department of Psychology until his retirement in 2007, 41 years later. During the course of his career, Helmreich published more than 200 research articles and monographs. Most of his publications dealt with issues related to airline and medical safety, and much of this work was done in collaboration with graduate students and colleagues. In recognition of his extensive contributions to improving crew performance, in 2005 Helmreich received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Flight Safety Foundation. Helmreich also received the Franklin V. Taylor Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Applied Experimental/Engineering Psychology from the American Psychological Association (APA), the Pro Bene Meritus A ward from The University of Texas (for his commitment to the liberal arts), and the David S. Sheridan Award from Albany Medical College.

Astronaut and Aquanaut Performance and Adjustment Behavioral Issues in Analagous Environments

The utility of analog environments as sources of data for future, long duration space missions is discussed. The undersea habitat is evaluated on a point-by-point basis for similarities and differences with Space Station and a possible lunar base. The comparability of Antarctic wintering-over stations is also considered. Critical issues for research are described, as well as the requirement that participants be involved in the conduct of meaningful work.