Cognitive and noncognitive determinants and consequences of complex skill acquisition.

Integration of multiple perspectives on the determinants of individual differences in skill acquisition is provided by examination of a wide array of predictors: ability (spatial, verbal, mathematical, and perceptual speed), personality (neuroticism, extroversion, openness, conscientiousness, and agreeableness), vocational interests (realistic and investigative), self-estimates of ability, self-concept, motivational skills, and task-specific self-efficacy. Ninety-three trainees were studied over the course of 15 hr (across 2 weeks) of skill acquisition practice on a complex, air traffic controller simulation task (Terminal Radar Approach Controller; TRACON; Wesson International, Austin, TX). Across task practice, measures of self-efficacy, and negative and positive motivational thought occurrence were collected to examine prediction of later performance and communality with pretask measures, Results demonstrate independent and interactive influences of ability tests and self-report measures in predicting training task performance. Implications for the selection process are discussed in terms of communalities observed in the predictor space. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Herpes gestationis. A clinicopathologic study

Herpes gestationis is a pruritic, blistering eruption of pregnancy and the puerperium. In three patients with immunologically verified disease, the clinical presentation consisted of widespread erythematous, edematous papules and plaques, grouped vesicles on erythematous bases, and tense bullae. Histologically, these lesions showed a moderately dense, mixed-inflammatory cell infiltrate around superficial and deep dermal blood vessels, and focal necrosis of epidermal basal cells. Papillary dermal edema, subepidermal bullae, and spongiosis were prominent. Eosinophils were frequently present in the subepidermal and intrepidermal vesicles. Differentiation of herpes gestationis from other blistering diseases and other dermatitides of pregnancy may be difficult.     

Experimental and theoretical evaluation of the CW suppression of TEside modes in conventional 1.55 μm InP-InGaAsP distributed feedbacklasers

A study is made of the factors that influence the suppression of the second TE Bragg mode in conventional 1.55 μm capped-mesa-buried-heterostructure distributed-feedback (CMBH-DFB) lasers. It is shown that the TE side-mode suppression becomes increasingly worse as the coupling of the optical mode to the grating ( kL) becomes larger, as expected from theoretical predictions. This degradation is not correlated to changes in the measured threshold gain margin, as obtained from spectral resonances. To explain the results, the authors introduce a new parameter-the threshold bias margin-which is a measure of the threshold difference between the lasing mode and the most prominent side mode     

Effects of structured clinician training on patient and therapist perspectives of alliance early in psychotherapy.

This study investigates the effects of structured clinician training in a Therapeutic Model of Assessment (TMA) and Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) on therapeutic alliance variables measured early in treatment. Thirty-four outpatients received psychotherapy from clinicians who had undergone structured training in a TMA and STPP. A 2nd group of 34 outpatients were assessed using a standard model of assessment and received general, nonstructured training in psychodynamic-eclectic treatment. Groups were matched on key demographic and clinical variables. Results demonstrated significant differences between the 2 groups on both patient- and therapist-rated alliance variables, with higher scores from those in the structured clinical training group. The impact that structured training and supervision may have on graduate clinicians' ability to form positive collaborative relationships with their patients is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Measurement of serum isopropanol and the acetone metabolite by proton nuclear magnetic resonance: application to pharmacokinetic evaluation in a simulated overdose model

The regional distribution of [11C]d-threo-methylphenidate in mouse brain was very similar to that of [3H]WIN 35,428 ((-)-2 beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-fluorophenyl)tropane), and the two radioligands were displaced from striatum similarly after administration of the potent cocaine analog RTI-55 ((-)-2 beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-iodophenyl)tropane). However, while striatal [3H]WIN 35,428 increased between 5 and 30 min, striatal [11C]d-threo-methylphenidate halved. Thus [11C]d-threo-methylphenidate binds similarly to but more reversibly than [3H]WIN 35,428. The methyl ester of L-DOPA (L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine; 200 mg/kg) plus benserazide plus clorgyline, which markedly elevates rat striatal extracellular dopamine (Wachtel and Abercrombie, 1994, J. Neurochem. 63, 108), decreased the mouse striatum-to-cerebellum ratio for [11C]d-threo-methylphenidate at 30 min by 13% (P < 0.05). In positron emission tomographic (PET) baboon studies [11C]d-threo-methylphenidate binding was insensitive to drugs expected to lower endogenous dopamine. These experiments suggest that normal synaptic dopamine does not compete for binding with [11C]d-threo-methylphenidate, and will not affect PET measures of dopamine transporter availability.     

South Carolina's village system

The authors describe the architectural, design, and mental health treatment concepts underlying the village system, a group of regional inpatient mental health facilities planned in South Carolina. One of the villages is currently under construction and is expected to open early in 1977. In design it resembles a residential community with all the elements of a normal small town or neighborhood.     

Electrometallurgically treating metal, oxide, and al alloy spent nuclear fuel types

Electrorefining uranium in a molten salt bath is the key step in the electrometallurgical treatment of spent nuclear fuels. The versatility of the electrometallurgical treatment suggests its use for a variety of spent fuel types, as well as for nonnuclear metal-separation applications.