Inferential processes in clinical work: Inquiry into logical errors that affect diagnostic judgments.

We explore the implications of the experimental findings of attribution theorists for practice, training, and research in the domain of counseling and psychotherapy. Research literature contains abundant evidence that people engage routinely in inferential processes that are logically deficient and lead to erroneous social judgments. Clinical psychologists, no less than others, are engaged in work that is highly inferential in character and that offers continuous opportunity for error in matters that have the most profound consequences in the lives of their clients. Certain sources of error are explored. Emphasis is given to the question of the accuracy and representativeness of the data about clients' lives and the hypotheses derived from those data. The evidence suggests that an objective of every training program in clinical psychology or psychiatry should be the instruction of students in the rigorous application of principles of inferential reasoning within the systems in which they choose to design their treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Structure and properties of amorphous diamond-like carbon films produced by ion beam assisted plasma deposition

The microstructure and tribological properties of carbon film produced by ion beam assisted plasma deposition in a plasma source ion implantation (PSII) chamber with energies varied from 0 to 30 keV are examined. The process is illustrated schematically, and Raman spectra as well as TEM images and corre-sponding diffraction patterns of carbon films are shown.     

Increased oxidative damage is correlated to altered mitochondrial function in heterozygous manganese superoxide dismutase knockout mice

This study characterizes mitochondria isolated from livers of Sod2(-/+) and Sod2(+/+) mice. A 50% decrease in manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) activity was observed in mitochondria isolated from Sod2(-/+) mice compared with Sod2(+/+) mice, with no change in the activities of either glutathione peroxidase or copper/zinc superoxide dismutase. However, the level of total glutathione was 30% less in liver mitochondria of the Sod2(-/+) mice. The reduction in MnSOD activity in Sod2(-/+) mice was correlated to an increase in oxidative damage to mitochondria: decreased activities of the Fe-S proteins (aconitase and NADH oxidoreductase), increased carbonyl groups in proteins, and increased levels of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine in mitochondrial DNA. In contrast, there were no significant changes in oxidative damage in the cytosolic proteins or nuclear DNA. The increase in oxidative damage in mitochondria was correlated to altered mitochondrial function. A significant decrease in the respiratory control ratio was observed in mitochondria isolated from Sod2(-/+) mice compared with Sod2(+/+) mice for substrates metabolized by complexes I, II, and III. In addition, mitochondria isolated from Sod2(-/+) mice showed an increased rate of induction of the permeability transition. Therefore, this study provides direct evidence correlating reduced MnSOD activity in vivo to increased oxidative damage in mitochondria and alterations in mitochondrial function.     

Microstructure coarsening during thermo-mechanical fatigue of Pb-Sn solder joints

Phase coarsening in as-cast solder joints produced by isothermal annealing and by thermo-mechanical cycling (TMC) (-30 to 130°C) was determined and its influence on the plastic deformation kinetics of 63Sn37Pb solder joints was investigated by stress relaxation (SR) tests. The static, isothermal coarsening kinetics were in accord with Senkov-Myshlyaev’s theory. The rate of coarsening by TMC was appreciably greater than that by isothermal annealing. The SR curves following TMC exhibited two regions with a stress exponent n > 5 at high stresses (Region A) and n ≈ 2-3 at low stresses (Region B). In both regions, the stress exponent varied in an irregular manner with the mean phase size. In Region A the plastic strain rate at a constant value of τⁿ (τ = shear stress) was relatively independent of the average phase size, while in Region B the strain rate increased with increase in phase size. The activation energy in both regions appeared to be that for lattice diffusion. Possible reasons for the anomalous effects of phase size on the plastic deformation kinetics are offered.     

Relationship between scene complexity and perceptual performance for computer graphics simulations

An important goal for the design of visual displays is to determine how much realism or scene complexity to include in a computer simulation to reach a given level of performance. This is an important task since the present trend in computer graphics is to include the highest level of realism or scene complexity possible in a simulation. However, it may not be necessary to always include the highest level of realism or complexity to reach an acceptable level of performance. In fact, needless degrees of realism, and thus computational resources, may be wasted in the quest for ‘photographic’ realism. To study the relationship between scene complexity and human performance, three different simulations of scene complexity were modeled for a final approach task. The subject's task were to estimate two aspects of situation awareness, perceived altitude and aimpoint, during a simulated final approach at nine unique distances to threshold. The three levels of scene complexity included a homogeneous Lambertian shaded flat surface, farmlands, and farmlands with hills. The results indicated that increasing the level of scene complexity lead to better performance in judging both altitude and aimpoint during the simulated final approach. The relationship between scene complexity and perceptual performance for computer graphics simulations are discussed.     

Mutations in the EXT1 and EXT2 genes in hereditary multiple exostoses

In an in-vitro preparation of gastric mucosae of Rana pipiens, the effect of adding melittin to a concentration of 5x10-6 M in the secretory solution on the transepithelial potential difference (PD), resistance (R) and short-circuit current (Isc) was studied. In 20 min, melittin decreased the PD by 9.3 mV and R by 148 ohm cm2. These changes can be explained by a decrease in the resistance, RP, of the paracellular pathway. To determine whether specific-ion pathways were responsible for the decrease in R, the effect of melittin on the partial conductances of Cl-, K+ and Na+ was also studied using the ion substitution method. Melittin decreased the PD response to changes in nutrient Na+, K+ and Cl- and the PD response to changes in secretory Cl-, but did not affect PD responses to changes in secretory Na+ or K+. Therefore, melittin decreased the nutrient membrane partial conductances of Cl-, K+ and Na+ and secretory membrane partial conductance of Cl-, without affecting the secretory partial conductances of Na+ or K+. Initially, melittin increased Isc in regular and Cl--free but not in Na+-free solutions. There was a delayed decrease in Isc. The results indicate that melittin decreases RP, increases the Na+ conductance of the secretory membrane and inhibits, eventually, the Na+/K+-ATPase pump.