A cognitive-developmental approach to children's expression of conflicting feelings and a technique to facilitate such expression in play therapy.

Presents a cognitive–developmental approach of children's understanding and expression of their emotions, focusing on the difficulty that young children have in simultaneously expressing what seems to be conflicting or contradictory feelings. Play therapy case examples of such problems are given, e.g., the difficulty many children have in acknowledging that they can feel smart and dumb at the same time. It is argued that one important source of the difficulty in simultaneously acknowledging conflicting emotions involves certain cognitive limitations of the young child. The relevance of cognitive–developmental theory to this problem is explored, focusing on the implications of both J. Piaget's and H. Werner's approaches. Finally, a technique that has emerged in the context of a recent play therapy case with a 6-yr-old girl is presented. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Anatomy of a Context-Aware Application

We describe a sensor-driven, or sentient, platform for context-aware computing that enables applications to follow mobile users as they move around a building. The platform is particularly suitable for richly equipped, networked environments. The only item a user is required to carry is a small sensor tag, which identifies them to the system and locates them accurately in three dimensions. The platform builds a dynamic model of the environment using these location sensors and resource information gathered by telemetry software, and presents it in a form suitable for application programmers. Use of the platform is illustrated through a practical example, which allows a user's current working desktop to follow them as they move around the environment.     

Event related potentials in adults diagnosed as reading disabled in childhood

The purpose of this study was to identify electrophysiological correlates of reading disability (RD) in adults with psychometrically documented childhood reading histories. Specific a-priori hypotheses for these correlates were generated from the findings of Harter, Anllo-Vento, Wood & Schroeder (1988a); Harter, Diering & Wood (1988b). The subjects were 32 males with normal intelligence and no history of attention deficit disorder or current major psychopathology. Event related potentials were recorded over O1, O2, C3', C4', F3, and F4 to letter stimuli using an intralocation selective attention paradigm. Subjects with RD showed a general reduction in positivity starting at 150 ms and continuing up to 500 ms. The reduced positivity at left central P240 replicated the findings of Harter et al. (1988b) with children. However, adult RD was associated with more diffuse, bilateral reduction in electrophysiological response to all stimuli. A possible relationship between the bilaterality of the neural deficit and the severity of the dyslexia was proposed: that a bilateral deficit may be involved in severe cases.     

Children's understanding of the simultaneity of two emotions: A five-stage developmental acquisition sequence.

Documented a five-stage scalable developmental sequence of children's understanding of the simultaneity of two emotions, defined by combinations of the valence of the two emotions (same valence or different valence) and the number of targets toward which the two emotions were directed (one target or two). The following sequence, documented across ages 4 through 12, emerged: Level 0, no acknowledgment of simultaneous emotions (at the remaining levels, simultaneity toward particular combinations is acknowledged, and each level represents a new acquisition); Level 1, simultaneity of emotions of same valence directed toward one target; Level 2, emotions of same valence, each directed toward a different target; Level 3, emotions of different valence, each directed toward a different target; and Level 4, emotions of different valence directed toward the same target. The ages of the children systematically increase across levels. The ordering of these levels was interpreted in terms of Fisher's skill theory, which provides a cognitive-structural analysis. Additional findings revealed developmental differences in the types of errors children made at the various levels. Moreover, young children were more likely to select positive rather than negative emotions, whereas the pattern was the reverse for older children. Finally, young children selected basic emotion terms (e.g., happy, sad, mad, scared) with great frequency. With increasing level, older children demonstrated a greater understanding of emotion terms that were more differentiated. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Local blood flow characteristics of arteriovenous fistulas in the forearm for dialysis

Symptomatic compulsive water drinking is uncommon. The pathophysiology of compulsive water drinking is essentially that of an acute organic brain syndrome from cerebral edema. The syndrome does not occur clinically unless there is an impairment of water excretion, since normal renal function allows up to 20 liters per day excess intake without accumulation. It has been reported that about 80 percent of cases are neurotic middleaged females. In almost all cases there is at least a history of neurotic symptoms or maladaptive symptoms if the history is probed. In most reported cases the patients were psychotic. When symptoms and laboratory aberration are mild, the sole treatment is water restriction. In moderate but very symptomatic cases, treatment includes both intravenous saline and water restriction. In severe cases treatment includes water restriction, intravenous hypertonic saline, diuretics, and anticonvulsants. After the acute phase, patient education may suffice as in the above case, but if psychosis is present, appropriate therapy is indicated accompanined by frequent checks of serum electrolytes to detect early aberration.     

Occurrence of trenbolone acetate metabolites in simulated confined animal feeding operation (CAFO) runoff

Metabolites of androgenic synthetic growth promoters used at confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) pose a demonstrated ecological risk. To evaluate the transport of trenbolone acetate (TBA) metabolites from beef cattle CAFOs, rainfall simulation experiments were conducted at the University of California, Davis, research CAFO. Steroid concentrations in solid and aqueous samples from the research CAFO and solids samples from a commercial CAFO were analyzed by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The data indicate that 17α-trenbolone (17α-TBOH), 17β-trenbolone (17β-TBOH), and trendione (TBO), the three primary TBA metabolites, occur in soils and runoff. Soils at the research CAFO contained up to 8.2 (±1.1) ng/g-dw of 17α-TBOH and 1.2 (±0.1) ng/g-dw of 17β-TBOH, with slightly higher (~20 ng/g-dw) 17α-TBOH concentrations observed in commercial CAFO soils. In simulated runoff, 17α-TBOH concentrations of 1-350 ng/L and TBO concentrations from 1-170 ng/L were observed. The metabolite 17β-TBOH intermittently occurred in runoff samples at 5-26 ng/L and may be correlated to anaerobic soils. Metabolite concentrations observed in CAFO runoff correspond to 5-15% of potential maximum steroid concentrations predicted by mass balances. First order transformation rates of 0.028/day (25 day half-life) were estimated for 17α-TBOH in CAFO soils. Results suggest that ecologically relevant concentrations of TBA metabolites can be mobilized from CAFO surfaces in storm runoff and may lead to receiving water concentrations at or above ecological effects thresholds for a very limited number of discharge scenarios.     

Fibroblast growth factor receptor expression in outer hair cells of rat cochlea

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are critical for normal development of the organ of Corti, and may also protect hair cells from ototoxic damage. Four different fibroblast growth factors are known, three of which have different splice variants in the extracellular immunoglobin-like (Ig) III FGF-binding domain, giving different patterns of sensitivity to the different FGFs. Analysis of a cDNA library of rat outer hair cells by the polymerase chain reaction, using isoform specific primers, showed expression only of FGF receptor 3, splice variant IIIc. This allows us to predict the pattern of sensitivity to applied FGFs, which may be useful in targeting outer hair cells selectively during an FGF-based strategy for cochlear therapy.     

A new self-report scale of intrinsic versus extrinsic orientation in the classroom: Motivational and informational components.

Describes a learning orientation scale in which 5 dimensions are defined by an intrinsic and an extrinsic pole: preference for challenge vs preference for easy work, curiosity/interest vs teacher approval, independent mastery attempts vs dependence on the teacher, independent judgment vs reliance on the teacher's judgment, and internal vs external criteria for success/failure. The reliability and factorial validity of the scale have been adequately demonstrated. Additional validity studies with a total of 2,925 Ss in Grades 3–9 are reported. Higher-order factoring yielded 2 distinct clusters of subscales: The 1st 3 dimensions form 1 factor and are interpreted as more motivational in nature; the remaining 2 are viewed as more cognitive–informational in nature. Developmental data show that across Grades 3–9 there was a shift from intrinsic to extrinsic on the 1st motivational cluster. Conversely, there was a dramatic developmental shift from extrinsic to intrinsic on the cognitive–informational cluster. Interpretations for these developmental differences are advanced, and the educational implications are explored. The discussion focuses on the need to be precise in conceptualizing and operationalizing the term "intrinsic motivation." (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A new method for rapid temporal scanning of ultrafast lasers

Using an identical pair of passively mode-locked fiber lasers, we demonstrate a new method of temporal scanning by periodically varying the cavity length of one laser. This scanning temporal ultrafast delay (STUD) technique produces scanning performance far exceeding that obtainable with conventional, mechanical scanning: For a pair of 5-MHz lasers, we obtain a scan range of ΔT=10 ns at a scan frequency of f_scan=25 Hz; and for 50-MHz lasers, we obtain ΔT=5 ns at f_scan=100 Hz. Highly accurate timing calibration is obtained by using multiple-pulse cross correlations. We use this method to characterize the timing jitter between the two lasers while they are scanning, and the reproducibility of the scanning. Timing accuracy of 200 fs over a 300-ps scan range is obtained for individual scans. Finally, we demonstrate the utility of this technique by using the dual laser system to measure carrier lifetimes in samples of ion-bombarded and intrinsic InGaAs. The selectability of the sweep rate and the scan range along with the subpicosecond accuracy give this technique a large temporal dynamic range, resembling the functionality of oscilloscopes     

Inactivation of p27Kip1 by the viral E1A oncoprotein in TGFbeta-treated cells

The adenovirus oncoprotein E1A and the simian virus SV40 large T antigen can both reverse the strong growth-inhibitory effect of transforming growth factor(TGF)-beta on mink lung epithelial cells: exposure of TGF-beta causes these cells to arrest late in the G1 phase of the cell cycle (ref. 3). This arrest correlates with an increase in expression of the protein p15Ink4B (ref. 4), inactivation of the cyclin E/A-cdk2 complex by the inhibitory protein p27Kip1 (refs 5-7), and with the accumulation of unphosphorylated retinoblastoma protein. The rescue by E1A of cells from TGF-beta arrest is partly independent of its binding to retinoblastoma protein. Here we show that E1A directly affects the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1 in TGF-beta-treated cells by binding to it and blocking its inhibitory effect, thereby restoring the activity of the cyclin-cdk2 kinase complex. In this way, E1A can overcome the effect of TGF-beta and modulate the cell cycle. To our knowledge, E1A provides the first example of a viral oncoprotein that can disable a cellular protein whose function is to inhibit the activity of cyclin-dependent kinases.