<p>Denna studie undersökte relationen mellan karaktärsdragen i The Big Five och Health Locus of Control (HLC). Testen NEO-FFI och MHLC användes för att mäta karaktärsdragen och dimensionerna i HLC. 130 studenter vid Växjö universitet deltog i studien. Resultatet visade en relation mellan Conscientiousness och dimensionen Intern HLC. Extraversion hade en något svagare relation till IHLC. Studenter med en högre grad av Conscientiousness eller Extraversion hade generellt en högre grad av IHLC. Neuroticism hade en relation till dimensionen Powerful others (PHLC). Studenterna med en högre grad Neuroticism hade också i allmänhet en högre grad av PHLC. De funna relationerna kan tyda på att karaktärsdragen tillsammans med HLC möjligen kan påverka faktorer som inverkar på hälsan.</p>

<p>Syftet med vår studie var att undersöka hur mycket av alkoholkonsumtionen hos stu-denter som kan prediceras genom biologiska (BMI, ålder och kön), psykologiska (Lo-cus of Control och The Big Five Personality Theory) samt sociala (alkoholvanor i familjen och anledningar till alkoholkonsumtion) faktorer. Vi har valt att undersöka varje individs alkoholkonsumtion i förhållande till BMI och därefter se hur mycket av variansen som kan prediceras av de variabler vi undersökt. Vårt urval bestod av gym-nasieelever och universitetsstudenter i Växjö. Sammanlagt ingick 201 personer i un-dersökningen, 107 män och 94 kvinnor. Vi använde oss av en enkät för insamling av vår data. Vi gjorde en multipel regressions analys som visade att alkoholkonsumtion kan prediceras till 34,3% av de prediktorer vi använt oss av. De biologiska faktorerna predicerade enskild sammanlagt 13,1% av konsumtionen, de psykologiska faktorerna 13,3% och de sociala faktorerna 7,9% av alkoholkonsumtionen i vårt urval. Studiens syfte ämnar belysa en del av de faktorer som påverkar en individs alkoholkonsumtion, för att skapa en djupare förståelse av alkoholmönster hos studenter.</p> / <p>The purpose of this study was to investigate to what extent alcohol consumption among students is predicted by biological (BMI, age and gender), psychological (Lo-cus of Control and The Big Five Theory) and social (drinking habits within the family and reasons for alcohol consumption) factors. We have chosen to investigate each respondent’s alcohol consumption in relation to BMI and then see to what extent the variance can be predicted by the variables we have investigated. Our selection con-sists of upper secondary school students and university students in Växjö. A total of 201 persons participated in the inquiry, of whom 107 were men and 94 were women. The data was collected by means of a questionnaire. We conducted a multiple regres-sion analysis which showed alcohol consumption can be predicted to 34.3% by the variables in this study. In our selection the biological factors alone predicted 13.1% of the alcohol consumption, the psychological factors 13.3% and the social factors 7.9%. This study seeks to highlight some of the factors that affect an individual’s consump-tion of alcohol, this in order to create a deeper understanding concerning alcohol pat-terns among students.</p>

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Auburn University, 2009. / Abstract. Includes bibliographic references (p.64-85).

The purpose of the study was to see how you as a person perceive yourself in comparison to how others perceive you. For this particular study a comparison has been made between people living together and how they view themselves versus how their friends/spouses/partners/family members view them. The hypothesis was that there would be a difference between how the individual living with you perceives you and how you perceive yourself. Individuals tend to stretch the truth about themselves and they tend to see themselves in a more positive light than others might see them. The study was conducted by handing out questionnaires consisting of Big Five and Marlowe Crowne scale. There were totally 40 participants in the study, 24 women and 16 men. The results showed no correlation and no statistical significance in any of the analyses. This was due to few participants in the study.

In the highly competitive environment businesses invest big amounts of money into the new product development. New product success potentially depends on different factors among which salespeople play an important role. The aim of this paper is to explore the potential link between salespeople’s personality, motivation to sell new products and performance in selling new products. Based on the theoretical background of the Big Five personality dimensions, motivation and selling performance hypotheses were formulated and tested using statistical methods of correlation and regression analysis. The data was collected within one technologically intensive organization – ABB AB in Sweden using online web questionnaire and self-assessment measurements. Total investigation was conducted among organization’s salesforce. The findings confirm the importance of salesperson’s personality empirically showing that the latter significantly predicts both motivation and performance in selling new products. From all the Big Five Extraversion was confirmed to be the most important predictor of both motivation and performance in selling new products. Extraversion was found positively related with both motivation and performance in selling new products. Salespeople scoring high in Extraversion and especially possessing such characteristics as confident, energetic and sociable tend to be more motivated to sell new products and show higher performance results. Other personality dimensions such as Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, and Openness to experience complexly approached are not proved to be significantly related neither with motivation nor performance in selling new products. The results are explained by the extreme importance of Extraversion in new product selling situation which analyzing in combination with the other personality dimensions suppresses the others. Finding regarding controlling for certain demographical characteristics of salespeople reveal that performance in selling new products is determined by selling experience. Salespeople’s age is not proved to be significantly related neither with motivation nor performance in selling new products. Findings regarding salespeople’s gender though proposing that males are more motivated to sell new products cannot be generalized due to the study limitations.

This thesis presents models and algorithms necessary to simulate the five-axis flank milling of jet-engine impellers in a virtual environment. The impellers are used in the compression stage of the engine and are costly, difficult to machine, and time-consuming to manufacture. To improve the productivity of the flank milling operations, a procedure to predict and optimize the cutting process is proposed. The contributions of the thesis include a novel cutter-workpiece engagement calculation algorithm, a five-axis flank milling cutting mechanics model, two methods of optimizing feed rates for impeller machining tool paths and a new five-axis chatter stability algorithm. A semi-discrete, solid-modeling-based method of obtaining cutter-workpiece engagement (CWE) maps for five-axis flank milling with tapered ball-end mills is developed. It is compared against a benchmark z-buffer CWE calculation method, and is found to generate more accurate maps. A cutting force prediction model for five-axis flank milling is developed. This model is able to incorporate five-axis motion, serrated, variable-pitch, tapered, helical ball-end mills and irregular cutter-workpiece engagement maps. Simulated cutting forces are compared against experimental data collected with a rotating dynamometer. Predicted X and Y forces and cutting torque are found to have a reasonable agreement with the measured values. Two offline methods of optimizing the linear and angular feeds for the five-axis flank milling of impellers are developed. Both offer a systematic means of finding the highest feed possible, while respecting multiple constraints on the process outputs. In the thesis, application of these algorithms is shown to reduce the machining time for an impeller roughing tool path. Finally, a chatter stability algorithm is introduced that can be used to predict the stability of five-axis flank milling operations with general cutter geometry and irregular cutter-workpiece engagement maps. Currently, the new algorithm gives chatter stability predictions suitable for high speed five-axis flank milling. However, for low-speed impeller machining, these predictions are not accurate, due to the process damping that occurs in the physical system. At the time, this effect is difficult to model and is beyond the scope of the thesis.

A distinction between ruminative and reflective forms of dispositional self-focus is introduced and the theoretical utility of this distinction is evaluated in a program of eight studies. Study 1 examined for the presence of this distinction among natural language trait descriptors. Study 2 evaluated whether this distinction provided a sufficient summary of relations between the Fenigstein, Scheier and Buss (1975) Self-Consciousness scales and the Five Factor Model of personality (FFM). In Study 3, two brief questionnaire measures of ruminative and reflective tendencies were developed, and their convergent and discriminant validity evaluated with respect to the FFM, and the Fenigstein et al. (1975) Public Self- Consciousness (PUSC) and Private Self-Consciousness (PRSC) scales. Study 4 investigated the extent to which rumination and reflection separately account for PRSC associations with measures of psychological distress (e.g., Beck Depression scale) and intellective dispositions (e.g., Need for Cognition scale), respectively. Study 5 evaluated, using a sample of dormitory roommates, the extent to which self-estimates of ruminativeness and reflectiveness correspond with the judgments of a knowledgeable observer. Studies 6, 7, and 8 evaluated the extent to which the traits of rumination and reflection separately account for previously reported PRSC associations with three theoretically relevant criteria of private self-consciousness: state indices of self-focused attention (Study 6), the asymmetry effect in self-other similarity judgments (Study 7), and research volunteerism (Study 8). Findings suggest that the PRSC scale confounds two relatively independent, and motivationally distinct dispositions, rumination and reflection, and that latent ruminative and reflective components of PRSC scores separately and fully account for PRSC correlates and effects. These findings provide a straight forward explanation of the "self-absorption" paradox implicit in the PRSC research literature, i.e., the consistent but apparently contradictory finding of more accurate and extensive self-knowledge, yet higher levels of subjective psychological distress, among persons high in private self-consciousness. It is likely that the PRSC's associations with psychological distress are uniquely due to its neurotic component (rumination), and that the PRSC's self-knowledge effects are uniquely due its intellective component (reflection). It is argued that rumination and reflection represent statistically and functionally independent self-focusing tendencies. Their strong and unique associations with the FFM dimensions of neuroticism and openness, respectively, imply a basic dichotomy of self-attentive motives: anxiety/fear and curiosity/exploration: rumination represents a useful summary conception of self-attentiveness motivated by perceived threats, losses, or injustices to the self; reflection represents a useful summary conception of self-attentiveness motivated by intrinsic curiosity, or epistemic interest in the self. It is concluded that the spatial metaphor of "direction" may not be an appropriate basis for a useful scientific conception of dispositional self-consciousness. The concept of a purely cognitive tendency to have attention chronically directed toward the self versus away from the self, construed independently of the emotional and motivational determinants of such a tendency, is probably untenable.

No description available.

<p>Several lines of cellular and physiological evidence have suggested the presence of a novel class of systemically mobile plant molecules that are recognized by antibodies generated against vertebrate atrial natriuretic peptides (ANPs). Functional characterization of these immunoanalogues, referred to as immunoreactive plant natriuretic peptides (irPNPs) or plant natriuretic peptides (PNPs), has shown that they play important roles in a number of cellular processes crucial for plant growth and maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Although the various biological roles of PNPs in plants are known, their exact mode of action remains elusive. To elucidate the mechanisms of action for these immunoanalogues, we have prepared a biologically active recombinant PNP from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtPNP-A) and the biological activity was demonstrated by showing its ability to induce water uptake into Arabidopsis thaliana protoplasts. In addition, the molecule was shown to downregulate photosynthesis while at the same time up-regulating respiration, transpiration as well as net water uptake and retention capacities in the sage Plectranthus ecklonii. Further analysis of the recombinant AtPNP-A indicated that the peptide can induce systemic response signalling though the phloem. A recombinant Arabidopsis wall associated kinase-like protein (AtWAKL10) that has a domain organization resembling that of vertebrate natriuretic peptide (NP) receptors was also partially characterized as a possible receptor for the recombinant AtPNP-A. Vertebrate NP receptors contain an extracellular ligand-binding domain and an intracellular guanylate cyclase (GC)/kinase domain and signal through the activity of their GC domain that is capable of generating intracellular cGMP from GTP. The structural resemblance of AtWAKL10 to vertebrate NP receptors could suggest a functional homology with receptor molecules and it is conceivable that such a receptor may recognize PNPs as ligands. The characterization of the recombinant AtWAKL10 showed that the molecule functions as both a GC and a kinase in vitro. This strengthened the suggestion that AtWAKL10 could be a possible AtPNP-A receptor especially considering the fact that AtPNP-A applications to plant cells also<br /> trigger cGMP transients. Furthermore, a bioinformatic analysis of the functions of AtPNP-A and AtWAKL10 has inferred both molecules in plant pathogen responses and defense mechanisms, thus indirectly functionally linking the two proteins.</p>

Tidigare forskning har visat att det finns ett samband mellan personlighetsdraget neuroticism och yttre motivation, a-motivation, låg självkänsla samt negativ affekt. Syftet med studien var att öka förståelsen för neuroticism som personlighetsdrag utifrån individernas motivationstyp, självkänsla samt individernas affektiva tillstånd. Studien undersökte även reliabiliteten hos instrumentet Mini-IPIP som har undersökt personlighetsdrag inom Big-five-teorin. Syftet testades med hjälp av fyra självskattningstester. Dessa var Mini-IPIP, Situational Motivation Scale (SIMS), Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) samt Rosenbergs Self-esteem Scale (SES). I studien deltog N=110 deltagare i åldrarna 19-53 år. I avsikt att bättre förstå neuroticism och dess relation till motivation, självkänsla samt affekt genomfördes statistiska analyser såsom korrelation och regressionsanalys. Resultatet visade, med hjälp av en korrelation, att det fanns ett samband mellan negativ affekt och neuroticism som personlighetsdrag. Regressionsanalysen bekräftade samband mellan neuroticism som personlighetsdrag och motivationstyperna a-motivation samt yttre motivation. Dock kunde inget samband mellan neuroticisms och självkänsla bekräftas.