Effects of Logo and CAI environments on cognition and creativity.

Assessed the effects of learning computer programming and computer-assisted instruction (CAI) on specific cognitive skills (classification and seriation operations), metacognitive skills, creativity, and achievement (reading, mathematics, and ability to describe directions). 72 6- and 8-yr-old children were pretested to assess pretreatment level of operational competence (classification and seriation), creativity, and achievement. Ss were then randomly assigned to 1 of 3 22-wk treatment conditions: Logo computer language programming, CAI, or control. Results from posttests reveal that the programming group scored significantly higher on measures of operational competence and creativity, on describing directions, and on 2 of 3 measures of metacognitive skills. No differences were found on measures of reading and mathematics achievement. (30 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Management functions of clinical psychologists: A further assessment.

Surveyed 336 clinical psychologists to assess the extent and nature of their involvement in management functions. Findings indicate that 225 Ss (67%) claimed management as one of their major professional roles, occupying an average of 33% of their work time. These proportions varied little across diverse work settings or age groups. Most Ss reported that they felt inadequately prepared for their management roles. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Proteomic and other analyses to determine the functional consequences of deregulated kallikrein-related peptidase (KLK) expression in prostate and ovarian cancer

Rapidly developing proteomic tools are improving detection of deregulated kallikrein-related peptidase (KLK) expression, at the protein level, in prostate and ovarian cancer, as well as facilitating the determination of functional consequences downstream. MS-driven proteomics uniquely allows for the detection, identification, and quantification of thousands of proteins in a complex protein pool, and this has served to identify certain KLKs as biomarkers for these diseases. In this review, we describe applications of this technology in KLK biomarker discovery and elucidate MS-based techniques that have been used for unbiased, global screening of KLK substrates within complex protein pools. Although MS-based KLK degradomic studies are limited to date, they helped to discover an array of novel KLK substrates. Substrates identified by MS-based degradomics are reported with improved confidence over those determined by incubating a purified or recombinant substrate and protease of interest, in vitro. We propose that these novel proteomic approaches represent the way forward for KLK research, in order to correlate proteolysis of biological substrates with tissue-related consequences, toward clinical targeting of KLK expression and function for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapies.     

Training in human service management for future practitioner-managers.

The growing involvement of psychologists in the management of human services, particularly in the public sector, has not been reflected in the development of corresponding academic or practicum training focusing on issues of service delivery. This article gives an overview of the practitioner-manager role and develops a rationale for management-oriented training in doctoral programs. An introductory course is briefly noted, and a review of models, knowledge and skills, and training resources is provided. Also described are practitioner-manager trends, training alternatives, and competing demands of the graduate curriculum. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Characterisation and in vitro cytotoxicity of triorganophosphinegold(i) 2-mercaptobenzoate complexes

The preparation and full NMR ((1)H, (13)C and (31)P) characterisation of three [R(3)PAu(2mba)] complexes, Where R = Et, Ph and Cy, and 2mba is the anion derived from 2-mercaptobenzoic acid is reported. An interesting solvent dependence in the (1)H spectra is rationalised in terms of competing intra- and inter-molecular hydrogen bonding. An X-ray analysis of the [Ph(3) PAu(2mba)] species reveals a linear P-Au-S arrangement and association in the lattice via the familar carboxylic acid dimer motif. The in Vitro cytotoxicity against seven human tumout lines is also described. The complexes display moderate to very high activity. Particularly noteworthy is their greater activity against the H226 cell line (non-small cell lung cancer) compared with that displayed by a range of cytotoxic drugs.     

A boundary element method for the solution of a class of heat conduction problems for inhomogeneous media

A boundary element method is derived for solving the two-dimensional heat equation for an inhomogeneous body subject to suitably prescribed temperature and/or heat flux on the boundary of the solution domain. Numerical results for a specific test problem is given.     

Validity of the minimum data set for assessing nutritional status in nursing home residents

The Minimum Data Set (MDS), a Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA)-mandated resident assessment system used in community nursing homes, is potentially useful for assessing nutritional status. We compared anthropometric measures of nutritional status available in the MDS [weight and body mass index (BMI)] with other anthropometric and bioelectrical measures of nutritional status, not available on the MDS. We also studied associations of MDS-measured clinical characteristics of nursing home residents with anthropometric and bioelectrical measures of lower and higher nutritional status, defined as measures in the 25th percentile and below, and 75th percentile and above, respectively. Data were from a sample of residents of an academic long-term care facility (n = 186, 75% female, mean age 89.9 +/- 5.6 y). Results were as follows: 1) MDS measures of weight and BMI were significantly correlated with all the anthropometric and bioelectrical measures of nutritional status in women, and most measures in men; 2) some MDS variables, including poor oral intake and advanced cognitive decline, were significantly associated with two or more anthropometric and bioelectrical measures of low nutritional status; and 3) complaints of hunger were significantly associated with two or more anthropometric and bioelectrical measures of high nutritional status. Results suggest that 1) weight and BMI, available in the MDS, are correlated with other measures of nutritional status not available, and 2) MDS clinical variables are associated with measures of low and high nutritional status, and may be useful in identifying patients at nutritional risk.