Normative and Distinctive Accuracy in Situation Perceptions

To what extent do people achieve accuracy in judging others’ situations? Based on interpersonal perception models, we propose that ex situ raters may attain accuracy by judging the psychological characteristics of a situation that in situ raters have experienced according to a normative and distinctive characteristics profile. Biesanz’ social accuracy model (SAM) provides a flexible crossed-effects random coefficient modeling framework that can be applied to situation perception data. By targeting characteristics profiles with the analytical unit of the ex situ rater-situation dyad, the extent of and variation in normative and distinctive accuracy of ex situ raters can be estimated and explained by personality correlates to quantify “the good ex situ rater.” We demonstrate an SAM approach to situational accuracy with real in situ and ex situ data (402 ex situ raters judged 10 situations on 8 characteristics) and sketch future research.

Airborne Platanus Pollen Analysis by EPMA

Particles of anthropogenic and biological origin, minerals and gaseous elements are the major constituents of the aerosol. Pollen is a biological component of the aerosol, found in suspension with other pollutants. In recent years, research has been conducted on the crossed effects between non-biological and biological pollutants on allergy worsening in susceptible individuals or on the development of symptoms in non-symptomatic ones. Platanus spp pollen is abundantly present in the atmosphere of Porto in early spring and is known to promote allergic respiratory symptoms. The aim of this study was to characterize possible alterations of the main elements present on the Platanus spp. pollen wall under different atmospheric conditions in the coastal city of Porto, Portugal, using EPMA.

An Evaluation of Correction Algorithms, Using Theoretically Calculated Intensities

Several correction algorithms (Lachance & Traill (L-T), Rasberry & Heinrich (R-H), Lachance & Claisse (L-C) and Claisse & Quintin (C-Q) have been inter compared. All these algorithms assume that the effects of the matrixelements can be added in a linear way. Tertian, however, has shown that this is perfectly valid only when absorption is the only interelement effect to be taken into account. When enhancement is involved, corrections for crossed-effects are necessary. We have also evaluated the application of crossed-effect correction. Calculations were done, using theoretically calculated relative intensities. Influence coefficients were calculated by a regression method.