Effects of a method of self-supervision for counselor trainees.

The authors tested the application of self-regulation and goal theory to self-supervision using a replicated, randomized multiple baseline (MBL) design. Specifically, 4 female novice counselor trainees were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 MBL conditions (self-supervision targeting the use of metaphor first and then empathy, self-supervision targeting empathy and then metaphor, or an attention placebo control) to test the effects of self-supervision on trainees' use of empathy and metaphor across counseling sessions. Although trainees significantly increased their use of metaphor after receiving self-supervision training, no significant effects were found for self-supervision targeting empathy. Tentative conclusions include that self-supervision appears viable with some limitations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gender, alcoholism, and neuropsychological functioning.

35 female and 25 male alcoholics (mean age 45) performed significantly more slowly than similar numbers of age-matched nonalcoholic controls on the Tactual Performance Test (TPT), especially with the left hand. Alcoholism effects were not significant for TPT Memory or Location. Women recalled significantly more shapes but correctly located fewer of those remembered than did men. Results suggest that (a) alcoholism effects on tactual–spatial performance are similar in men and women, (b) right hemisphere functions or less well-practiced skills may be selectively vulnerable to alcoholism, and (c) sex differences exist in tactual memory and spatial location abilities. (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The impact of geropsychology training.

What effect does a geropsychology practicum placement have on graduate students' knowledge of and attitudes toward older adults? Ninety psychology externs and interns were surveyed at the beginning of the training year and then 9 months later. About half of the trainees provided services in settings that served older adults, whereas the remainder did not. At the end of training, those with a geropsychology placement maintained higher interest in geropsychology, had lower negative attitudes toward older people, and had greater knowledge of mental health and aging than trainees without a geropsychology placement. There were no differences between the two placement groups in knowledge of general facts on aging and positive attitudes toward the aged. The implications of the findings for graduate program directors, training psychologists, and graduate students are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sampling from the recorded therapy interview: A comparative study of different segment lengths.

To assess the effect of variations in the length of segments sampled from individual psychotherapy recordings on ratings of patient Experiencing (EXP) (a dimension of Process), judges' ratings of 2-, 4-, 8-, and 16-minute segments drawn from 2 points (early and late) in therapy with psychotics, neurotics and normals are compared. The results indicate: interrater and rerate reliabilities are unaffected by segment length: the scale range covered does not vary as a function of segment length; the absolute level of Experiencing (EXP) ratings tends to be a positive function of segment length, but the relative ordering of individuals and the ability of the scale to reflect change in EXP is not related to variations in segment length. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reestablishing mental health services in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, following Hurricane Katrina.

In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast causing widespread residential displacement, unemployment, and compromised social networks for the residents of St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana. Symptoms of grief, depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, adjustment disorders, and psychosis were anecdotally reported among clinic patients during the authors' deployment to the parish in December 2005 (4 months post-Katrina). These anecdotal reports were confirmed through the analysis of survey data that were collected during the authors' follow-up visit in August 2006 (11 months post-Katrina). In collaboration with the United States Public Health Service, the parish has prioritized restoring medical and mental health services to the parish in its efforts to rebuild and repopulate. Implications for mental health practice and public policy are summarized. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Microsystems in health care: Part 1. Learning from high-performing front-line clinical units

BACKGROUND: Clinical microsystems are the small, functional, front-line units that provide most health care to most people. They are the essential building blocks of larger organizations and of the health system. They are the place where patients and providers meet. The quality and value of care produced by a large health system can be no better than the services generated by the small systems of which it is composed. METHODS: A wide net was cast to identify and study a sampling of the best-quality, best-value small clinical units in North America. Twenty microsystems, representing different component parts of the health system, were examined from December 2000 through June 2001, using qualitative methods supplemented by medical record and finance reviews. RESULTS: The study of the 20 high-performing sites generated many best practice ideas (processes and methods) that microsystems use to accomplish their goals. Nine success characteristics were related to high performance: leadership, culture, macro-organizational support of microsystems, patient focus, staff focus, interdependence of care team, information and information technology, process improvement, and performance patterns. These success factors were interrelated and together contributed to the microsystem's ability to provide superior, cost-effective care and at the same time create a positive and attractive working environment. CONCLUSIONS: A seamless, patient-centered, high-quality, safe, and efficient health system cannot be realized without the transformation of the essential building blocks that combine to form the care continuum.     

Enhanced co-tolerance and co-sensitivity from long-term metal exposures of heterotrophic and autotrophic components of fluvial biofilms

Understanding the interactive effects of multiple stressors on ecosystems has started to become a major concern. The aim of our study was therefore to evaluate the consequences of a long-term exposure to environmental concentrations of Cu, Zn and As on the pollution-induced community tolerance (PICT) of lotic biofilm communities in artificial indoor channels. Moreover, the specificity of the PICT was assessed by evaluating the positive and negative co-tolerance between these metals. Photosynthetic efficiency and substrate-induced respiration (SIR), targeting the autotrophic and heterotrophic communities respectively were used in short-term inhibition bioassays with Cu, Zn and As to assess sensitivities of pre-exposed biofilms to the metals tested. Diversity profiles of a phototrophic, eukaryotic and prokaryotic community in biofilms following the different treatments were determined and analyzed with principal component analysis. The results demonstrated that pre-exposure to metals induced structural shifts in the community and led to tolerance enhancements in the phototrophic and heterotrophic communities. On the other hand, whatever the functional parameter used (i.e. photosynthesis and SIR), communities exposed to Cu were more tolerant to Zn and vice versa. Furthermore, only phototrophic communities pre-exposed to As developed tolerance to Cu but not to Zn, whereas no co-tolerance between Cu and As was observed in the heterotrophic communities. Finally, phototrophic and heterotrophic communities exposed to Cu and Zn became more sensitive to As, reflecting a negative co-tolerance between these metals. Overall, our findings support the fact that although the mode of action of the different metals is an important driver for the structure and thus the tolerance of the communities, it appears that the detoxification modes are the most important factors for the occurrence of positive or negative co-tolerance.     

Electric Current as a Driving Force for Interphase Growth in Spark Plasma Sintered Dielectric Composites

All‐oxide composites are increasingly investigated in the field of microelectronics and telecommunications because of their multifunctionalities. Advanced control of interfaces is required to fully tune the macroscopic properties of the composites. Processing ferroelectric Ba_0.65Sr_0.35TiO₃ (BST65/35)‐TiO₂ composites by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS), we show that the SPS electric current promotes an interphase growth whose thickness depends on the BST/TiO₂ stacking and on the current direction. In all cases, the interface is composed of Ba_1.14(2) Ti₈O_16‐δ a highly defective, but stable phase which can be used to tune the overall dielectric properties of the composites.     

Immunophenotypic,immunocytochemistry, ultrastructural,and cytogenetic characterization of mesenchymal stem cells from equine bone marrow

The aim of this study was to isolate, culture, and characterize mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from horse bone marrow (BM) using the techniques of flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry, cytogenetics, and electron microscopy. Immunophenotypic analysis revealed the presence of MSCs with high expression of the CD90 marker, lower expression of the CD44 marker, and absent expression of the CD34 marker. In assays of differentiation, the positive response to osteogenic (OST), chondrogenic (CDG), and adipogenic (ADP) differentiation signals was observed and characterized by deposition of calcium‐rich extracellular matrix (OST), proteoglycans and collagen II (CDG) and intracellular deposition of fat drops (ADP). In immunocytochemical characterization, MSCs were immunopositive for CD44, vimentin, and PCNA, and they were negative for CD13. In the ultrastructural analysis of MSCs, the most outstanding characteristic was the presence of rough endoplasmic reticulum with very dilated cisterns filled with a low electrodensity material. Additionally, MSCs had normal karyotypes (2n = 64) as evidenced by cytogenetic analysis, and aneuploidy in metaphase was not observed. The protocols for isolating, culturing, and characterizing equine MSCs used in this study were shown to be appropriate for the production of a cell population with a good potential for differentiation and without aneuploidy that can be used to study future cellular therapies. Microsc. Res. Tech. 76:618–624, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Latex agglutination assays for detection of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli serogroups O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145

Latex agglutination assays utilizing polyclonal antibodies were developed for the top six non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) serogroups. Rabbit antisera were affinity purified through protein A/G columns, and the isolated immunoglobulins (IgGs) were covalently immobilized onto polystyrene latex particles. The resulting latex-IgG complex had a protein (IgG) load of 0.20 to 0.28 mg/ml in a 1% latex suspension. Optimum conditions for the agglutination assay consisted of utilizing 20 μm l of latex-IgG reagent containing 2.0 to 2.8 μm g IgG in a 0.5% latex suspension. Agglutination or flocculation was observed almost instantly after mixing the colonies with the latex-IgG, indicating STEC strains. More than 100 target and nontarget strains were tested in more than 3,000 test replicates. All target organisms produced positive results, but three antisera (anti-O26, anti-O103, and anti-O145) cross-reacted with some other STECs. The anti-O103 and anti-O145 latex reagents cross-reacted with O26 strains, and the anti-O26 cross-reacted with O103 strains. The latex-IgG reagents are stable for at least 1 year and are easy to prepare. These agglutination assays can be used for identification of presumptive non-O157 STEC colonies from agar media. The techniques used to prepare the latex reagents also can be utilized for testing other STEC serogroups, other E. coli serotypes, or other pathogens to ensure safe foods to consumers.