Direct evidence for a genetic basis for black–white differences in IQ.

Claims that the American Psychological Association (APA) Task Force on Intelligence (U. Neisser et al; see record 83-26553) conclusion that there is little direct evidence to support the genetic basis for IQ differences between Blacks and Whites is in error. Studies of transracial adoption and of the racial differences in brain size are cited as examples of direct evidence for the genetic hypothesis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Top management team characteristics and innovation in nursing homes

This study examines how the demographic characteristics of the top management team in 236 nursing homes can affect the adoption of innovations. The computerization of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) is the innovation we examine, and tenure, education, and involvement in a professional society are the demographic characteristics investigated. Controlling for 10 organizational and environmental factors, the results are generally significant for each of these demographic factors. However, the results for top managers of nonchain nursing homes show a greater association between these demographic factors and innovation than the results for top managers of nursing homes belonging to a chain. We discuss these results in terms of their significance for innovation research, nursing homes, and top management.     

Three procedures for presenting minimally different positive and negative instances.

Compared the efficiency of 3 procedures for sequencing examples with minimal stimulus variation between adjacent positive and negative examples: dynamic, static, and static with maximal differences between example pairs, a procedure suggested by R. D. Tennyson et al (see record 1972-24236-001); Ss were 30 5–6 yr olds. In the static treatment, 2 minimally different instances were presented simultaneously. In the dynamic treatment a single stimulus was altered to successively generate minimally different positive and negative instances. A significant linear trend suggests that for young children, increasing relevant feature saliency by minimizing variation in irrelevant features early in an example sequence and altering a single stimulus to generate examples reduced training requirements. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Integrated Framework to Investigate Value Innovations

A conceptual framework has been developed to investigate value innovations within construction companies. A visual metaphor has been defined to model the innovation system where the elements of the model are objectives, strategies, environmental barriers/drivers, and organizational factors. The major idea is that none of the elements of the model alone can explain the innovative capability, and elements as well as their interrelations should be considered concurrently to investigate how the innovation system works in construction companies. An application of the framework has been demonstrated by 11 cases taken from the Turkish construction industry. General findings of the research have been reported as well as specific company examples that demonstrate the major mechanisms of the innovation system. The research findings have revealed that environmental factors can have both hindering and supporting impacts on the innovation system, depending on other elements of the framework. The type of innovations is strongly related to company targets, strategies, strengths/weaknesses, and environmental factors. Moreover, matching of appropriate strategies with organizational properties leads to an increase in innovative capacity.     

Cluster analysis of training orientations in clinical psychology.

Performed a cluster analysis of therapeutic approaches in clinical training on the basis of data provided in a survey conducted by G. Colletti et al (1983) of program directors of 96 clinical psychology training programs. Support was found for the emerging popularity of eclectic and cognitive behavioral training approaches in academic clinical psychology. The analysis revealed 3 relatively discrete clusters and 1 heterogeneous grouping: eclectic/cognitive-behavioral (n?=?59); broad-spectrum behavioral (n?=?13); psychoanalytic/humanistic (n?=?8); and unclassified (n?=?16). Psychoanalytically oriented training programs tended to be concentrated in large urban settings. It is suggested that the adoption of eclectic and cognitive behavioral approaches among clinical practitioners may be expected to grow as graduates of training programs emphasizing such orientations enter the field. (5 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Envenomation by Echis coloratus (Mid-East saw-scaled viper): a review of the literature and indications for treatment

The HLA class I sequences included in this compilation are taken from publications listed in the papers: Nomenclature for factors of the HLA system, 1991 (Bodmer et al. 1992); Nomenclature for factors of the HLA system, 1990 (Bodmer et al. 1991); and Nomenclature for factors of the HLA system, 1989 (Bodmer et al. 1990). Due to the increased number of sequences we have only included sequences for exons 2, 3, and 4 in this compilation. Where discrepancies have arisen between reported sequences, the original authors have been contacted where possible, and necessary amendments to published sequences have been incorporated into this alignment. Future sequencing may identify errors in this list and we would welcome any evidence that helps to maintain the accuracy of this compilation. In the sequence alignments, identity between nucleotides is indicated by a hyphen (-). An unavailable sequence is indicated by a period (.). Gaps in the sequence are inserted to maintain the alignment between different alleles showing variation in amino acid number.     

Gender and AIDS-related psychosocial processes: a study of perceived susceptibility, social distance, and homophobia

Over the past decade, researchers have accumulated evidence that suggests six main factors are associated with AIDS-related risk reduction behavior: (a) perceived susceptibility (Dolcini et al., 1995; van der Plight & Richard, 1994); (b) attitudes toward condoms (Catania et al., 1994; Maticka-Tynadale, 1991); (c) personally knowing someone with HIV/AIDS (Joseph et al., 1987); (d) perceived peer norms about risk-reduction (Maticka-Tyndale, 1991); (e) previous sexual activity (Joseph et al., 1987); and (f) self-efficacy (Aspinwall, Kemeny, Taylor, & Schneider, 1991; van der Plight & Richard, 1994). Furthermore, there is some suggestion that the epidemiology and sociocultural constructions of the disease has led to considerable gender, racial, and class differences in awareness of AIDS, perception of HIV threat, and HIV-relevant behavior (Cohan & Atwood, 1994; Dolcini et al., 1995; Gillies, 1994).     

Assessing Infrastructure Project Innovation Potential as a Function of Procurement Mode

The delivery of infrastructure projects as long-term capital investments is impacted in most cases by critical issues of budget constraints, program delays, quality and safety concerns, and an increasingly complex stakeholder environment. Innovation, as it relates to the physical, process, organizational/contractual, and financial/revenue dimensions of a project, has a central role to play in not only contributing to the requirements set for a wide variety of project performance metrics but also improving upon them. Proposed in this paper is a theory in the form of a set of factors (drivers/inhibitors to innovation) and related state values that influence the potential for the identification and adoption of innovations that improve project efficiency or offer increased value. This theory is embedded in a supporting assessment framework to assist with selecting and structuring a project’s procurement mode to enhance the innovation potential of a project from the perspective of a government agency tasked with such decisions. The framework was developed in response to a lack of tools to help practitioners with tasks relating to innovation assessment, especially in regard to conducting a public sector comparator analysis when a public–private partnership procurement mode is being considered among others; and aligning terms and conditions in bid documents, requests for proposals, and concession agreements in a way that fosters beneficial innovations to the extent that factor states can be controlled. The framework provides the project evaluation process with a means of assessing project innovation potential at the very front end of the procurement mode selection process, and is meant to be comprehensive yet simple and easy to use in practice. It can also be used by researchers to help analyze on a postproject basis reasons why innovations were or were not adopted for a specific project context. The framework is applied to case studies on two infrastructure projects in Scandinavia and the United States to demonstrate its application and to assess the role that choice of procurement mode had in influencing the innovations used.     

Relationship between Construction Firm Strategies and Innovation Outcomes

Survey results provide a preliminary assessment of the relative contribution of a range of tactical business strategies to innovation performance by firms in the Australian construction industry. Over 1,300 firms were surveyed in 2004, resulting in a response rate of 29%. Respondents were classified as high, medium or low innovators according to an innovation index based on the novelty and impact of their innovations and their adoption of listed technological and organizational advances. The relative significance of 23 business strategies concerning (1) employees; (2) marketing; (3) technology; (4) knowledge; and (5) relationships was examined by determining the extent to which they distinguished high innovators from low innovators. The individual business strategies that most strongly distinguished high innovators were (1) investing in R&D; (2) participating in partnering and alliances on projects; (3) ensuring project learnings are transferred into continuous business processes; (4) monitoring international best practice; and (5) recruiting new graduates. Of the five types of strategies assessed, marketing strategies were the least significant in supporting innovation. The results provide practical guidance to managers in project-based industries wishing to improve their innovation performance.     

Les qualités psychométriques de la version canadienne-fran?aise du Questionnaire de Satisfaction du Consommateur de services psychothérapeutiques (QSC-8 et QSC-18B).

Studied the psychometric validity, the internal consistency, the factorial structure, and the discriminant properties of the Canadian-French version of an instrument designed to measure client satisfaction with psychotherapeutic services. Human subjects: 126 male and female French-Canadian adults (aged 19–67 yrs). All Ss had received treatment for dysthymic disorders, emotional problems, or mild personality disorders. Ss were interviewed by telephone during the week in which they initially sought treatment and at the end of treatment. During the course of treatment, the Questionnaire d'Auto-évaluation de la Détresse Psychologique ("Self-Report Questionnaire of Psychologic Distress") (SCL-10) by T. D. Nguyen et al (1983) and the Psychiatric Symptom Inventory (1974) by L. Derogatis et al were administered. At the end of treatment, the Canadian-French version of the CSQ for psychotherapeutic services by Sabourin et al (1987) was administered during a telephone interview. The results were analyzed statistically according to client satisfaction, demographic factors, utilization of psychiatric services, and efficacy of treatment. The psychometric validity of the CSQ was determined. (English abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Research utilization in community mental health: Some comments on O'Donohue, Curtis, and Fisher (1985).

Criticizes the study by W. T. O'Donohue et al (see record 1986-04773-001) on the use of research in the practice of community mental health (CMH), questioning their operational definition of CMH research utilization. It is suggested that the data of O'Donohue et al bear more directly on the level of sophistication of CMH clinical decision making, to which research consumerism contributes. The evidence for unsophisticated clinical practice advanced by O'Donohue et al may reflect in part sloppy bookkeeping or paperwork burnout. General comments on mental health research utilization are offered. (6 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Advancing the practice of online psychotherapy: An application of Rogers' diffusion of innovations theory.

With the advancements of technology and its increasing use in all spheres of life, clinicians too are faced with the decision of whether to adopt or refrain from adopting certain innovations in their practice. This article discusses the process of adopting clinical innovations within a theoretical framework, namely diffusion of innovations theory (DIT; Rogers, 2003). DIT constructs are applied to the example of online therapy adoption into clinical practice. Nine adoption barriers are identified, including issues of dehumanizing the therapeutic environment, start-up cost and reimbursement, infrastructure and training, licensure and jurisdiction concerns, ethical guidelines, both client and clinician suitability factors, and professional reputation and acceptance within the field. The authors conclude with a theory-based discussion of activities that may help to accelerate the adoption of online therapy among professional psychologists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Juvenile transfer to adult courts: A look at the prototypes for dangerousness sophistication-maturity and amenability to treatment through a legal lens.

Juvenile court judges are often required to make distinctions as to whether certain adolescents should remain in the juvenile justice system or be transferred to adult courts. Typically, 3 broad factors weigh into juvenile court judges' decision making: (a) the level of danger the juvenile poses to the community, (b) the level of sophistication-maturity of the juvenile, and (c) the extent to which the juvenile is viewed as treatable. In an earlier study, knowledge of forensic and child psychologists was tapped to elucidate core characteristics related to the transfer process (R. T. Salekin et al, 2001). The current study augments that investigation. Judges provided (a) their perspective regarding the core criteria for dangerousness, sophistication-maturity, and amenability to treatment, and (b) data on the core characteristics of juveniles who were evaluated and subsequently judged to be appropriate for transfer to adult criminal courts. Policy implications for this increasingly critical interface between law and psychology are threefold: (a) Individualized assessments are key; (b) the adoption of a national standard for transfer to adult court is required; and (c) the development of treatment programs to improve the socialization of youth is necessary. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Focal issues for institutional change.

Six focal issues related to innovation and change in people-changing institutions are illustrated by examples from a total-change project at an institution for adjudicated delinquent male adolescents. These issues reflect the following needs: (a) adoption of a guiding philosopy of rehabilitation, treatment, and/or education that adequately considers the ecological context in which the philosophy must operate; (b) use of historical context (perspective) to aid understanding and action; (c) attention to the staff of people-changing institutions; (d) development of an organizational structure that can best foster a growth-producing environment for both staff and residents; (e) acknowledgement of problems of innovation and implementation; and (f) external orientation and community focus. (75 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On the misnaming of utilization curves in health and mental health delivery systems.

Comments on the suggestion by T. A. Daschle et al (see record 1993-26994-001) that, in discussing unnecessary or unwise health services utilization, such users should be compared with those "on the other end of the curve" (i.e., those whose outcomes are better). It is argued that Daschle et al are apparently misinformed on the distribution curve nature of utilization of health services. It is noted that most research bearing on health and mental health delivery systems has noted the presence of a negatively accelerating, declining "decay" curve with known empirical–statistical parameters. Presumably improved planning for and utilization of all health-related services will be better served if the correct nature of their distributions and resultant curves are fully recognized and taken into account. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Stimulus-driven attentional capture and attentional control settings.

J. Jonides and S. Yantis (1988) found that abrupt-onset singletons capture attention in visual search when onset is orthogonal to the target's defining and reported attributes and that color and brightness singletons do not. They concluded that abrupt onset may be unique in capturing visual attention. C. L. Folk et al (1992) challenge this conclusion and argue that (1) the occurrence of attentional capture is contingent on the adoption of an appropriate attentional control setting by the observer and (2) properties other than onset (in particular, color) can capture attention involuntarily. In this article, each of these claims is critically evaluated, and it is argued that the results by Folk et al, though important, do not definitively corroborate either one. The available evidence concerning stimulus-driven attentional capture is summarized, and 3 empirical generalizations that characterize the evidence are advanced. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Measurement of cytochrome oxidase and mitochondrial energetics by near-infrared spectroscopy

Cytochrome oxidase is the terminal electron acceptor of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. It is responsible for the vast majority of oxygen consumption in the body and essential for the efficient generation of cellular ATP. The enzyme contains four redox active metal centres; one of these, the binuclear CuA centre, has a strong absorbance in the near-infrared that enables it to be detectable in vivo by near-infrared spectroscopy. However, the fact that the concentration of this centre is less than 10% of that of haemoglobin means that its detection is not a trivial matter. Unlike the case with deoxyhaemoglobin and oxyhaemoglobin, concentration changes of the total cytochrome oxidase protein occur very slowly (over days) and are therefore not easily detectable by near-infrared spectroscopy. However, the copper centre rapidly accepts and donates an electron, and can thus change its redox state quickly; this redox change is detectable by near-infrared spectroscopy. Many factors can affect the CuA redox state in vivo (Cooper et al. 1994), but most significant is likely to be the molecular oxygen concentration (at low oxygen tensions, electrons build up on CuA as reduction of oxygen by the enzyme starts to limit the steady-state rate of electron transfer). The factors underlying haemoglobin oxygenation, deoxygenation and blood volume changes are, in general, well understood by the clinicians and physiologists who perform near-infrared spectroscopy measurements. In contrast, the factors that control the steady-state redox level of CuA in cytochrome oxidase are still a matter of active debate, even amongst biochemists studying the isolated enzyme and mitochondria. Coupled with the difficulties of accurate in vivo measurements it is perhaps not surprising that the field of cytochrome oxidase near-infrared spectroscopy has a somewhat chequered past. Too often papers have been written with insufficient information to enable the measurements to be repeated and few attempts have been made to test the algorithms in vivo. In recent years a number of research groups and commercial spectrometer manufacturers have made a concerted attempt to not only say how they are attempting to measure cytochrome oxidase by near-infrared spectroscopy but also to demonstrate that they are really doing so. We applaud these attempts, which in general fall into three areas: first, modelling of data can be performed to determine what problems are likely to derail cytochrome oxidase detection algorithms (Matcher et al. 1995); secondly haemoglobin concentration changes can be made by haemodilution (using saline or artificial blood substitutes) in animals (Tamura 1993) or patients (Skov & Greisen 1994); and thirdly, the cytochrome oxidase redox state can be fixed by the use of mitochondrial inhibitors and then attempts make to cause spurious cytochrome changes by dramatically varying haemoglobin oxygenation, haemoglobin concentration and light scattering (Cooper et al. 1997). We have previously written reviews covering the difficulties of measuring the cytochrome near-infrared spectroscopy signal in vivo (Cooper et al. 1997) and the factors affecting the oxidation state of cytochrome oxidase CuA (Cooper et al. 1994). In this article we would like to strike a somewhat more optimistic note--we will stress the usefulness this measurement may have in the clinical environment, as well as describing conditions under which we can have confidence that we are measuring real changes in the CuA redox state.     

宝钢滚筒渣安定性的试验研究

 介绍了宝钢滚筒渣的基本性质和粒度分布,构建了一套安定性测定装置,考察了渣样粒度、浸泡时间、水浴温度、荷载板重等因素对渣安定性的影响,并探讨了水浸时渣内f CaO含量的变化趋势以及f CaO含量和体积膨胀率之间的关系,为滚筒渣的工程应用提供初步依据。     

Forging the Solution to the Energy Challenge: The Role of Materials Science and Materials Scientists

The energy challenge is central to the most important strategic problems facing the United States and the world. It is increasingly clear that even large-scale deployments of the best technologies available today cannot meet the rising energy demands of a growing world population. Achieving a secure and sustainable energy future will require full utilization of, and substantial improvements in, a comprehensive portfolio of energy systems and technologies. This goal is complicated by several factors. First, energy strategies are inextricably linked to national security and health issues. Second, in developing and deploying energy technologies, it is vital to consider not only environmental issues, such as global climate change, but also economic considerations, which strongly influence both public and political views on energy policy. Third, a significant and sustained effort in basic and applied research and development (R&D) will be required to deliver the innovations needed to ensure a desirable energy future. Innovations in materials science and engineering are especially needed to overcome the limits of essentially all energy technologies. A wealth of historical evidence demonstrates that such innovations are also the key to economic prosperity. From the development of the earliest cities around flint-trading centers, to the Industrial Revolution, to today’s silicon-based global economy, the advantage goes to those who lead in exploiting materials. I view our challenge by considering the rate of innovation and the transition of discovery to the marketplace as the relationship among R&D investment, a skilled and talented workforce, business innovations, and the activities of competitors. Most disturbing in analyzing this relationship is the need for trained workers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). To develop the STEM workforce needed for innovation, we need sustainable, positive change in STEM education at all levels from preschool through postgraduate. Materials sciences can be a significant magnet in attracting students to STEM areas, and a focused effort is needed to ensure that it is included in STEM programs. From this effort will come the next generation of materials scientists and the innovations that will enable us to overcome the energy challenge.     

The dimensionality of self-esteem: Some results of a college sample.

Examined the hypothesis that self-esteem is a multidimensional construct—as suggested by R. Shavelson et al (see record 1978-30429-001)—via the scores of 106 undergraduates on a modified Feelings of Inadequacy Scale. Three factors were found and labeled Social Confidence, School Abilities, and Self-Regard. These are comparable to 3 of the 4 dimensions discussed by Shavelson et al. Correlations of total self-esteem with measures of several other constructs were consistent with findings from previous studies; however, the correlations of the factors with these variables revealed that factors were differentially related to the constructs in some cases. Findings support a hierarchical conceptualization of self-esteem. (45 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)