Preparation of the international employee: Career and consultation needs.

Studied how 26 senior managers and 47 senior professional technical staff (recently repatriated) of 4 US owned multinational organizations viewed their international posting, specifically with respect to career path satisfaction. Results of satisfaction scales indicate that many Ss felt under-prepared for their international assignment. It is suggested that a comprehensive international employee development program should assess, provide feedback, and coach individuals on career path, culture shock and adjustment, and performance issues prior, during, and on return from the expatriate assignment. Results suggest that opportunities exist for individual and organizational intervention. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) and Orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) Encode Relevant Problem Features in a Tool-Using Task.

Two important elements in problem solving are the abilities to encode relevant task features and to combine multiple actions to achieve the goal. The authors investigated these 2 elements in a task in which gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) and orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) had to use a tool to retrieve an out-of-reach reward. Subjects were able to select tools of an appropriate length to reach the reward even when the position of the reward and tools were not simultaneously visible. When presented with tools that were too short to retrieve the reward, subjects were more likely to refuse to use them than when tools were the appropriate length. Subjects were proficient at using tools in sequence to retrieve the reward. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The volume integral method of eddy-current modeling: Verification

The volume integral method of eddy-current modeling represents a flaw in metal as a set of electric dipoles located within volume elements or cells defining the flaw volume. Given this dipole distribution, impedance changes may be computed. The electric field of the dipole distribution is determined by an integral equation relating, by means of the electric field Green's tensor, the electric field due to the source to the total electric field in the flaw. The integral equation is solved by assuming that the total electric field is constant in each volume element, resulting in a matrix equation. The method has been programmed for use on a microcomputer. The method and computer program are verified using the analytical solution for a small spherical flaw and three sets of measured impedance data, measured by air-core coils along profiles overlying both surface-breaking and buried simulated flaws of known dimensions. Operating frequencies ranged between 900 and 4000 Hz. Generally agreement is good at lower frequencies ( 1000 Hz). At higher frequencies ( 4000 Hz), the agreement is not as good. This is thought to be due to the inability of the constant electric field approximation to model the steep electric field gradients present in the host metal at high frequency. The results are also sensitive to the method of computation of the electric field due to the source. Some improvements can and should be made to the method.     

Fear Appeals,Message Processing Cues,and Credibility in the Websites of Violent,Ideological, and Nonideological Groups

Ideological groups use the Internet to deliver their messages unhindered by the constraints of traditional media. We examined how ideological groups promote their worldview through their websites. Using the elaboration likelihood model (ELM), this research used trained coders to examine the websites of nonideological groups (n = 37), nonviolent ideological groups (n = 36), and violent ideological groups (n = 32) for credibility, persuasion processing cues, and interactivity factors. Results of this study found that the websites of violent ideological groups use more fear appeals, were less interactive, and were the least credible of the 3 groups. All 3 groups used more central cues than peripheral suggesting they focused on evidence for their arguments rather than emotion.     

Ex vivo staining of metastatic lymph nodes by class I major histocompatibility complex tetramers reveals high numbers of antigen-experienced tumor-specific cytolytic T lymphocytes

Characterization of cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses to tumor antigens has been impeded by a lack of direct assays of CTL activity. We have synthesized reagents ("tetramers") that specifically stain CTLs recognizing melanoma antigens. Tetramer staining of tumor-infiltrated lymph nodes ex vivo revealed high frequencies of tumor-specific CTLs which were antigen-experienced by surface phenotype. In vitro culture of lymph node cells with cytokines resulted in very large expansions of tumor-specific CTLs that were dependent on the presence of tumor cells in the lymph nodes. Tetramer-guided sorting by flow cytometer allowed isolation of melanoma-specific CTLs and confirmation of their specificity and their ability to lyse autologous tumor cells. Our results demonstrate the value of these novel reagents for monitoring tumor-specific CTL responses and for generating CTLs for adoptive immunotherapy. These data also indicate that strong CTL responses to melanoma often occur in vivo, and that the reactive CTLs have substantial proliferative and tumoricidal potential.     

New institute shoots for the moon

The Institute of Medicine's (IOM) exhaustive study on the computerized patient record is finally complete. One of the study's first recommendations is to establish an institute for the computer-based patient record to get the ball rolling. Computers in Healthcare Editor Carolyn Dunbar asks a key leader of the IOM study, Richard Dick, Ph.D., why the ball is now rolling and picking up speed rapidly toward a true electronic medical record.     

Technology centers showcase networking possibilities

Two technology centers for healthcare information systems are now in business--the Hospital of the Future for Andersen Consulting in Dallas and the Healthcare Information Technology Center for Coopers & Lybrand in Parsippany, N.J. Although they are very different in size, style and approach, both centers allow prospective buyers to "see" and "touch" new technologies that enable disparate systems to communicate and share information.     

Reform long overdue: panel seeks to end purchasing nightmare

During the purchase and installation process for new healthcare information systems, the inept, self-serving and sometimes short-sighted behavior of healthcare institutions, consultants and vendors surfaces time after time. The Center for Healthcare Information Management (CHIM) Business Conduct Committee has been engaged in frank discussions of the purchasing boondoggle. A panel of committee members and others now call for reform and point to better-educated buyers as the most effective and practical solution.