Effects of labels on the perception and discrimination learning of retardates.

Assessed the role of labels in perception in 54 familial retardates and 48 normal IQ children at 2 matched MA levels. 3 experimental manipulations were employed at each level in a factorial design. 1 group learned to associate a common label to random visual forms; a 2nd group learned distinctive labels to the same forms; finally, a 3rd group viewed the forms without labels. Following verbal training, all Ss received perceptual judgment and discrimination-learning tasks. No significant differences emerged between the retarded and normal Ss on paired-associate learning, discrimination learning, or perceptual accuracy without labels. In contrast to the normal children, however, the retardates' perceptual and learning processes were relatively unaffected by the learning of verbal levels. (16 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Clinical experiences of play therapists: Does race/ethnicity matter?

The authors describe racial/ethnic similarities and differences of a sample of 891 members of the Association for Play Therapy with regard to workplace variables, professional interests and activities, and supervision variables. Results indicate few differences between Caucasian and racial/ethnic minorities and few differences between the racial/ethnic groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Individual and institutional productivity of racial and ethnic minority research in the Journal of Counseling Psychology.

This study examined individual and institutional productivity of research pertaining to racial and ethnic minorities in the Journal of Counseling Psychology (JCP). Full-length articles appearing in JCP from 1988 to 1997 were examined. Two distinct methods to calculate productivity scores were used to obtain rankings of individual authors (G. S. Howard, D. A. Cole, & S. E. Maxwell, 1987) and institutions (D. J. Tinsley & H. E. Tinsley, 1979). Our findings identified the top most productive authors and institutions of ethnic and racial research published in JCP from 1988 to 1997. Implications of these findings and areas for future research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Physicochemical, thermal and functional characterisation of protein isolates from Kabuli and Desi chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.): a comparative study with soy (Glycine max) and pea (Pisum sativum L.)

BACKGROUND: Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seeds are a good source of protein that has potential applications in new product formulation and fortification. The main objectives of this study were to analyse the physicochemical, thermal and functional properties of chickpea protein isolates (CPIs) and compare them with those of soy (SPI) and pea (PPI) protein isolates. RESULTS: Extracted CPIs had mean protein contents of 728–853 g kg^?1 (dry weight basis). Analysis of their deconvoluted Fourier transform infrared spectra gave secondary structure estimates of 25.6–32.7% α‐helices, 32.5–40.4% β‐sheets, 13.8–18.9% turns and 16.3–19.2% disordered structures. CPIs from CDC Xena, among Kabuli varieties, and Myles, among Desi varieties, as well as SPI had the highest water‐holding and oil absorption capacities. The emulsifying properties of Kabuli CPIs were superior to those of PPI and Desi CPIs and as good as those of SPI. The heat‐induced gelation properties of CPIs showed a minimum protein concentration required to form a gel structure ranging from 100 to 140 g L^?1. Denaturation temperatures and enthalpies of CPIs ranged from 89.0 to 92.0 °C and from 2.4 to 4.0 J g^?1 respectively. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that most physicochemical, thermal and functional properties of CPIs compare favourably with those of SPI and are better than those of PPI. Hence CPI may be suitable as a high‐quality substitute for SPI in food applications. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture based mass spectrometry approach to detect transient protein interactions using substrate trapping

The analysis of protein interactors in protein complexes can yield important insight into protein function and signal transduction. Thus, a reliable approach to distinguish true interactors from nonspecific interacting proteins is of utmost importance for accurate data interpretation. Although stringent purification methods are critical, challenges still remain in the selection of criteria that will permit the objective differentiation of true members of the protein complex from nonspecific background proteins. To address these challenges, we have developed a quantitative proteomic strategy combining stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture (SILAC), affinity substrate trapping, and gel electrophoresis followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (geLC-MS/MS) protein quantitation. ATP hydrolysis-deficient vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 4B (Vps4B) was used as the "bait" protein which served as a substrate trap since its lack of ATP hydrolysis enzymatic activity allows the stabilization of its transiently associated interacting proteins. A significant advantage of our approach is the use of our new in-house-developed software program for SILAC-based mass spectrometry quantitation, which further facilitates the differentiation between the bait protein, endogenous bait-interacting proteins, and nonspecific binding proteins based on their protein ratios. The strategy presented herein is applicable to the analysis of other protein complexes whose compositions are dependent upon the ATP hydrolysis activity of the bait protein used in affinity purification studies.     

DNA damage, a biomarker of carcinogenesis: its measurement and modulation by diet and environment

Free radicals and other reactive oxygen or nitrogen species are constantly generated in vivo and can cause oxidative damage to DNA. This damage has been implicated to be important in many diseases, including cancer. The assessment of damage in various biological matrices, such as tissues, cells, and urine, is vital to understanding this role and subsequently devising intervention strategies. During the last 20 years, many analytical techniques have been developed to monitor oxidative DNA base damage. High-performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry are the two pioneering contributions to the field. Currently, the arsenal of methods available include the promising high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry technique, capillary electrophoresis, 32P-postlabeling, antibody-base immunoassays, and assays involving the use of DNA repair glycosylases such as the comet assay. The objective of this review is to discuss the biological significance of oxidative DNA damage, evaluate the effectiveness of several techniques for measurement of oxidative DNA damage in various biological samples and review current research on factors (dietary and non-dietary) that influence DNA oxidative damage using these techniques.     

Prevalence and risk factors of problem gambling among college students.

College students from 2 Minnesota universities were surveyed about their gambling involvement. Gambling was reported to be a common experience, with 87% having participated at least once in the previous year. Most students reported gambling at fairly infrequent levels, and few identified financial, social, or personal consequences as a result of gambling. The odds of being identified as a probable pathological gambler was high for men, those indicating a positive parental history for gambling problems, regular (weekly plus) users of illicit drugs, and those with poor grades. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Classroom learning and motivation: Clarifying and expanding goal theory.

Suggests directions for future research on goal theory. Areas are pointed out in which attention to definition of constructs and to problems in classroom implementation would strengthen the field. In addition, suggestions for use of different sampling techniques and designs and introduction of qualitative methods are discussed. Possible contributions of constructivist views of learning to goal theory are considered. Finally, investigation of the ways in which social goals interact with mastery and performance goals to influence strategy use is proposed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The moderating effect of self-esteem in reaction to voice: Converging evidence from five studies.

It has been posited that high self-esteem persons (high SEs) are more confident than low self-esteem persons (low SEs) of their capability to provide meaningful input in a decision process. If this is so, then high SEs should be more influenced by their perceived level of voice, relative to low SEs. Survey data from 4 field studies showed that voice was more positively related to various dependent variables among high SEs than low SEs. In Study 5, the authors experimentally manipulated voice as well as participants' beliefs about their capability to provide meaningful input. As expected, voice had a greater impact on the reactions of participants who were led to believe that they were more capable of providing meaningful input. Theoretical implications are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)