Relationships between Wechsler Scales and Quick Test IQs among disability applicants.

Relationships, including age, race, sex, and IQ level, between the Wechsler intelligence scales for children and adults (WISC, WISC—R, WAIS, WAIS—R) and the Quick Test (QT) were studied among 280 applicants for disability benefits in a private practice setting. Results were as follows: (a) The QT was more strongly related to the WAIS/WAIS—R than to the WISC—R; (2) although correlations between QT and the WAIS were higher for Blacks than for Whites, this bias disappeared with the WAIS—R; (3) the QT correlated slightly more highly for female subjects with the WAIS—R than for male subjects; and (d) all correlations between the QT and the WAIS—R were consistently higher than correlations between the QT and the WAIS. We conclude that the QT underestimates the WISC—R IQs by an average of 5 IQ points but provides a good approximation of WAIS—R IQs both for Blacks and Whites and for male and female subjects. This study also demonstrates that psychologists in private practice settings can use the product of their day-to-day work to investigate important questions that require empirical answers, which, in turn, can influence clinical practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Toward institutionalization of a research capacity in mental health service organizations.

Barriers to the integration of research and practice in mental health service organizations are delineated, and organizational practices to promote research institutionalization are developed. On the basis of our experiences and a literature review, key barriers are identified: inadequate rationales for research models, flaws in research implementation, divergences in clinical and research perspectives, and a paucity of long-term funding for research. Criteria by which to evaluate organizational readiness to engage in institutionalization are delineated. Then sustaining rationales for research program development, specific implementation practices, and strategies for procuring funds are reviewed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Differential effects of yohimbine and naloxone on copulatory behaviors of male rats.

Prior research has demonstrated that both yohimbine, an alpha?-adrenergic antagonist, and naloxone, an opiate antagonist, facilitate components of copulatory behaviors in nonstressed male rats. In the present experiments, it is demonstrated that these drugs differentially affect copulatory behaviors when the behavioral testing situation contained an aversive element. Male rats received an injection of lithium chloride (0.3 M, 20 ml/kg, ip) immediately after each encounter with an estrous female. Consequently, male copulatory behaviors gradually declined during successive test sessions. These male rats also received ip injections of either yohimbine (2 mg/kg/ml), naloxone (4 mg/kg/ml), or isotonic saline 20 min prior to each copulation test. Yohimbine-treated rats were more likely to copulate than control rats during both acquisition and extinction of lithium chloride-induced associative inhibition of copulatory behavior. Conversely, naloxone-treated rats were less likely to copulate than control rats during both acquisition and extinction. Data are consistent with the hypothesis that yohimbine increases sexual motivation in the male rat and limit the generality of the excitatory effects of naloxone on copulatory behaviors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The seasonal variation of thermophilic campylobacters in beef cattle, dairy cattle and calves

The epidemiology of clinical cases of campylobacter in temperate climates shows a striking seasonality. In the search for a seasonal environmental reservoir changes in the carriage rate and population size of campylobacters in bovine hosts with time have been measured. Most probable number (MPN) methodology was used to enumerate thermophilic campylobacters in samples taken from the small intestines of beef cattle at slaughter and the fresh faeces of four dairy herds and new-born calves. Statistical analyses revealed significant evidence for seasonal periodicity in the data from dairy herds (P = 0.044). Not only was there a departure from constancy within a 12-month interval but these data revealed a true seasonality, that is, the same periodicity in numbers from one year to the next. Each herd had two peaks per year, in approximately spring and autumn. Peaks coincided in herds on neighbouring farms but those on farms in the north preceded those on farms in the south by 2 and 1 months, respectively (P = 0.0057). Intestinal carriage by beef cattle at slaughter was 89.4% (n = 360) with an average MPN campylobacters per gram fresh weight (MPN gfw-1) of 6.1 x 10(2). Average MPN gfw-1 in faeces from the dairy herds and calves were 69.9 (S.D. 3) and 3.3 x 10(4) (S.D. 1.7 x 10(2)). There was no evidence of seasonal periodicity in the size of the campylobacter population in beef cattle at slaughter. Calves were campylobacter free at birth but became colonized with a few days.     

The potential for recycling municipal sewage sludge as a substrate for wetland creation

Municipal sewage sludge (MSS) is proposed as a suitable substrate for wetland creation. Sludge disposal is currently limited to terrestrial conditions due to concern for the transmission of pollutants. Wetland structure and wetland biogeochemical cycles were compared with sludge disposal practices to identify strengths and weaknesses in wetland mechanisms for pollution control. Potential pollution from sludge use is proposed to be mitigated both by wetland function and by the substrate construction method. Because MSS requires specific handling techniques to prevent undesired release into the environment, to protect workers and to be practical for construction, designs responsive to the nature of the construction material were necessary. Three designs were developed, evaluated and compared in terms of aesthetics, educational opportunities, environmental safety, nutrient cycling, waste material utilization, substrate construction requirements and wetland establishment requirements.     

Outsourcing in the private and public sectors: an unpredictable IT strategy

IT outsourcing has grown considerably in the private sector, with IT software and service suppliers reporting increased revenues. Similarly in the public sector, the introduction of market testing and compulsory competitive tendering (CCT) will inevitably lead to the contracting-out of significant levels of IT work. This may lead to the demise of some public sector IT departments where external bids are favoured over those offered by the in-house team. This paper is divided into two sections. First, it considers some of the relevant literature on IT outsourcing in both private and public sector British and American organizations. It draws together important themes which explain the attraction of IT outsourcing to senior executives. Second, it introduces the results from a questionnaire survey of nearly 200 UK private and public sector organizations on IT outsourcing. In particular it looks at the proportion of organizations that claims to use outsourcing, how contracts are negotiated and the type of IT solutions preferred by IT managers. The central argument is that IT outsourcing poses significant challenges to both private and public sector organizations and is not simply a quick-fix panacea. Moreover, public sector IT managers would do well to analyse some of the less favourable reports from private sector outsourcing as they gear themselves up for CCT in the months ahead.     

Synergy between Advanced Composites and New NDI Methods

A D Sight Aircraft Inspection System (DAIS 500) large area composite impact damage detection capability has been demonstrated using several structures. In order to obtain equivalent impact damage depths, the IM7/5250-4 structures had to be subjected to much higher impact energies than conventional AS4/3501-6 structures. It is postulated that the application of DAIS with its better than visual inspection sensitivity could lead to both increased design allowables and an alternate approach to certification of composite structures based on impact cumulative probability of occurrence. Further evidence of impact indent depth relaxation (over 30%) was observed. Indent relaxation may have significant implications with respect to the airworthiness of composite structures designed to BVID (barely visible impact damage) limits since this relaxation makes the damage site less apparent.     

Response latency detection of fakers on personnel tests.

Examined the ability of personnel test item response latencies to differentiate between individuals instructed to fake and those instructed to respond honestly with 64 undergraduates in Exp 1 and 100 unemployed Ss in Exp 2. Results supported a general model of lying derived from schema theory, demonstrating that fakers take relatively longer than honest respondents to admit to delinquent characteristics concerning themselves. Discriminant function analysis indicated that response latencies to items on standard personnel tests could significantly distinguish between fakers and honest test respondents in a personnel testing scenario. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to the special series: Cognitive and academic issues related to chronic illness.

The articles in this special series were written by a group of distinguished investigators whose research represents a broad range of illness groups and disciplines for the purpose of integrating literature and addressing the mechanism by which a chronic disease may result in learning problems. Within the limitations of a scholarly journal, not every illness type was included. Rather, specific disease types were chosen in which school psychologists are apt to have frequent contact with these children and where the diseases are frequently associated with learning problems. Another purpose of this special volume is to bring together a variety of perspectives within the field in the hope of stimulating additional dialogue among school psychologists and pediatric psychologists, and other health care providers. Finally, it is hoped that such a collection will encourage clinical researchers to consider School Psychology Quarterly as a forum for the exchange of scholarly research within the fields of chronic illness and disorders related to learning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)