Why clinical psychology does not need alternative training models.

Current evidence suggests that the Boulder (scientist-professional) model of training in clinical psychology is eminently successful and widely accepted. The author argues that (a) alternative models of training that deemphasize research or general psychology and those programs not based in a university are unnecessary and undesirable, and (b) regardless of the type of model used, the highest level of quality is essential for the profession and the discipline of psychology. It is contended that ultimate control of the quality of education and training rests with psychology. (31 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Differential mass spectrometry: a label-free LC-MS method for finding significant differences in complex peptide and protein mixtures

Efficiently identifying and quantifying disease- or treatment-related changes in the abundance of proteins is an important area of research for the pharmaceutical industry. Here we describe an automated, label-free method for finding differences in complex mixtures using complete LC-MS data sets, rather than subsets of extracted peaks or features. The method selectively finds statistically significant differences in the intensity of both high-abundance and low-abundance ions, accounting for the variability of measured intensities and the fact that true differences will persist in time. The method was used to compare two complex peptide mixtures with known peptide differences. This controlled experiment allowed us to assess the validity of each difference found and so to analyze the method's sensitivity and specificity. The method detects both presence versus absence and a 2-fold change in peptide concentration near the limit of detection of the instrument used, where chromatographic peaks may not be sufficiently well defined to be detected in individual samples. The method is more sensitive and gives fewer false positives than subtractive methods that ignore signal variability. Differential mass spectrometry combined with targeted MS/MS analysis of only identified differences may save both computation time and human effort compared to shotgun proteomics approaches.     

Development and optimization of a mid-infrared hollow waveguide gas sensor combined with a supported capillary membrane sampler

A gas sensor for application in water analysis was developed by combination of a mid-infrared (MIR) hollow waveguide with a Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer and coupling of the hollow waveguide gas sensor module to a supported capillary membrane sampler (SCMS) for continuous liquid-gas extraction. Different hollow waveguides have been characterized in this study for developing an optimized optical configuration. Analysis of industrially relevant compounds has been performed, investigating chlorinated hydrocarbons (CHCs), such as dichloromethane and chloroform, representing highly volatile analytes, and 1,4-dioxane as an example of target compounds with low volatility. The suitability of this spectroscopic IR sensing system for industrial applications is demonstrated under simulated real-world conditions with limits of detection in the ppb (v/v) and ppm (v/v) concentration range for CHCs and 1,4-dioxane, respectively.     

Unrealistic optimism in internet events

This study assessed the tendency for individuals to be unrealistically optimistic about internet related activities. Ninety-seven participants estimated their chances of experiencing 31 positive and negative internet events compared to the average student at their school. The data indicated that students believed positive internet events were more likely to happen to them and negative events were less likely to happen to them compared to the average student. Heavy internet users reported more optimistic responses than did light users. Perceptions of event characteristics (controllability, desirability, and personal experience) were also significantly correlated with optimistic bias.     

Stability of nc-Si:H TFTs With Silicon Nitride Gate Dielectric

We report the fabrication and characterization of bottom-gate and top-gate nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) thin-film transistors (TFTs) with amorphous-silicon nitride (a-SiN_x:H) as the gate dielectric. The devices were fabricated using standard 13.56-MHz plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition at 240 degC. Here, the same 80-nm nc-Si:H channel, 300-nm a-SiN_x:H gate dielectric, and 60-nm n⁺ nc-Si:H ohmic contact layers were used in both TFT structures. We analyzed the effects of gate configuration on TFT performance and, in particular, the electrical stability. The stability tests were carried out at a gate bias stress in the range from 20 to 40 V. The nc-Si:H TFTs demonstrated much better threshold-voltage (V_T ) stability compared with the amorphous-silicon (a-Si:H) counterparts, offering great promise for applications in active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) displays     

Evaluation of MODIS surrogates for meteorological humidity data in east Africa

Satellite remote-sensing technology has shown promising results in characterizing the environment in which plants and animals thrive. Scientists, biologists, and epidemiologists are adopting remotely sensed imagery to compensate for the paucity of weather information measured by weather stations. With measured humidity from three stations as baselines, our study reveals that normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and atmospheric saturation deficit at the 780 hPa pressure level (D_MODIS), both of which were derived from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor, were significantly correlated with station saturation deficits (D_stn) (|r| = 0.42–0.63, p < 0.001). These metrics have the potential to estimate saturation deficits over east Africa. Four to nine days of lags were found in the NDVI responding to D_stn. For the daily estimation of D_stn, D_MODIS yielded better performance than the NDVI. However, both of them poorly explained variation in daily D_stn using simple regression models (adj. R² = 0.17–0.39). When the estimation temporal scale was changed to 16 days, performance was similar, and both were better than daily estimations. For D_stn estimation at coarser geographic scales, given that many factors such as soil, vegetation, slope, aspect, and wind speed might complicate NDVI response lags and model construction, D_MODIS is preferable as a proxy to saturation deficit over ground due to its simple relationship with D_stn.     

Tuning in to psychological change: Linguistic markers of psychological traits and emotions over time in popular U.S. song lyrics.

American culture is filled with cultural products. Yet few studies have investigated how changes in cultural products correspond to changes in psychological traits and emotions. The current research fills this gap by testing the hypothesis that one cultural product—word use in popular song lyrics—changes over time in harmony with cultural changes in individualistic traits. Linguistic analyses of the most popular songs from 1980–2007 demonstrated changes in word use that mirror psychological change. Over time, use of words related to self-focus and antisocial behavior increased, whereas words related to other-focus, social interactions, and positive emotion decreased. These findings offer novel evidence regarding the need to investigate how changes in the tangible artifacts of the sociocultural environment can provide a window into understanding cultural changes in psychological processes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)