Responses of dairy heifers to the visual cliff formed by a herringbone milking pit: Evidence of fear of heights in cows (Bos taurus).

The ability of cows (Bos taurus) to perceive depth has never been experimentally investigated. If cows can perceive depth, the milking pit in commercial milking facilities may be fear provoking for dairy cows, as past research has shown that most land-dwelling species possess an instinctive fear of heights. In the current study, 12 dairy heifers (1-year-old cows) were exposed to a milking pit (depth-exposed group) and 13 heifers (control group) were exposed to a standard change in the environment while they moved through a milking facility over a 5-day treatment period. Heifers in the depth-exposed group showed a higher heart rate (p     

The study of change in psychotherapy: A reexamination of the process–outcome correlation paradigm. Comment on Stiles and Shapiro (1994).

W. B. Stiles and D. A. Shapiro (see record 1995-10433-001) present a provocative argument that the yield of process research has been minimal because of researchers' overreliance on the drug metaphor and its corollary, the correlational design. Although Stiles and Shapiro raise excellent points regarding the possible misinterpretations of correlational research, their conclusion that the process-outcome correlation paradigm is flawed and has outlived its usefulness is questioned. The basic thesis is that Stiles and Shapiro did not provide a fair test of the correlation paradigm. The process variables used to test the paradigm do not have the strong theoretical and empirical grounding necessary to support the assumption that they should be related to outcome. In this article, examples are described, of programmatic process research that has used the correlation paradigm, along with other methods of inquiry, to advance the understanding of how change occurs and to improve treatment efficacy. It is contended that the correlational method is one useful tool of discovery and that it has contributed significantly to the advancement of the field when the process variables studied are grounded in solid theory and research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Multilayer Roll-Bonded Sandwich: Processing,Mechanical Performance,and Bioactive Behavior

Multifunctionality and improving the properties of materials make it necessary to use hybrid systems such as combinations of metals with polymers. Their applications can be found in all areas where light weight and improved and adapted mechanical properties as well as high functionality are needed. Moreover, tailored types of hybrids can be interesting for biomedical applications, as under specific conditions they show, e.g., good strength combined with high elasticity. Herein, we present preliminary tests on the biomimetic behavior of AISI SS316L/polypropylene copolymer/AISI SS316L sandwich. Biomimetic coatings were produced by inducing a calcium phosphate layer in a way similar to the process of natural bone formation. Knowledge of the formability of three-layered sandwich sheets and their biomimetic behavior is presented.     

Multiplex analysis of cytokines as biomarkers that differentiate benign and malignant thyroid diseases

Thyroid cancer incidence is increasing, and its diagnosis can be challenging. Fine needle biopsy, the principal clinical tool to make a tissue diagnosis, leads to inconclusive diagnoses in up to 30% of the cases, leading to surgery. Advances in proteomics are improving abilities to diagnose malignant conditions using small samples of tissue or body fluids. We hypothesized that analysis of serum growth factors would uncover diagnostically informative differences between benign and malignant thyroid conditions. Using xMAP profiling, we evaluated concentrations of 19 cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors. We used sera from 23 patients with cancer (Malignant group), 24 patients with benign nodular thyroid disease (Benign group), and 23 healthy subjects (Normal group). In univariate analysis, five factors (epithelial growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor, Interleukins‐5 and ‐8, and regulated upon activation, normally T‐expressed and presumably secreted (RANTES) distinguished subjects with thyroid disease from the Normal group. In multivariate analysis, the set {Interleukin‐8, hepatocyte growth factor, monocyte‐induced γ interferon, interleukin‐12 p40} achieved noteworthy discrimination between Benign and Malignant groups (area under the receiver operating characteristics curve was 0.81 (95% confidence interval: 0.65–0.90)). Multiplex panels of serum biomarkers may be promising tools to diagnose cancer in patients presenting with evidence of nodular thyroid disease.     

The interplay of biology and the environment broadly defined.

This special section of Developmental Psychology contains articles on the interplay of biology and the environment, broadly defined, that have the potential to change or challenge how developmental psychologists think. Topics include how experience affects gene expression; how genes affect how the environment is experienced and what effect the environment has; interactions between the environment and the presence or absence of early brain damage; motor neurons and the understanding of others' beliefs and intentions; the effect of physical fitness on cognition and the brain; evidence that our brains work and develop differently from the way traditionally thought; misconceptions that can arise from treating children as if they are simply small adults; and how research with adults can provide insights into developmental processes in children. Each of the 16 articles in the special section forges new territory and crosses disciplinary boundaries. They suggest that investigators look at variables not typically considered, or look at them from perspectives not usually taken, and especially that they pay more attention to interrelations among variables. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of postassault exposure to attack-similar stimuli on long-term recovery of victims.

Recent studies have suggested a classical conditioning explanation for the "core of distress" symptom reported by rape victims that reportedly persists well after most other symptoms have subsided. The current study tested an extension of this theory to the long-term reactions of victims of domestic assault and nondomestic assault in addition to victims of rape. Level of long-term psychological distress was found to be strongly related to level of victim exposure to stimuli in the absence of a subsequent attack; long-term distress level was found to be unrelated to short-term distress level when controlling for level of exposure to attack-similar stimuli. Results suggest the tenability of a classical conditioning model of long-term psychological distress experienced by victims of the types of assault studied, thus highlighting the importance of situational variables in the recovery process. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cognitive and behavioral targets in a self-control therapy program for depression.

One-hundred-four women who met Research Diagnostic Criteria for nonpsychotic, nonbipolar Major Affective Disorder were treated in 21 therapy groups for 10 weekly 1? hr sessions. Three versions of the self-control therapy program for depression, one with a behavioral target, one with a cognitive target, and one with a combined target, were used to treat 7 groups each. All conditions improved significantly and equally on self-report and clinician rating scales of depression. All conditions improved equally on measures of both behavioral and cognitive target variables, and initial level on these variables was not related to outcome. (41 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Educational uses of a dynabook

The Dynabook personal computing concept, as introduced by the Xerox Learning Research Group (LRG) in the early 1970's, is a new communications tool based on the retrieval of dynamic information. Implementing the Dynabook concept is requiring several stages of computer hardware and software development. At each stage of developing an experimental (or ‘interim Dynabook’) system, we are studying its use for educational purposes by conducting computer programming classes for children ranging in age from 6 to 15 years and by implementing a number of laboratory situations for particular subject areas.Preliminary results of our studies have demonstrated the ease with which we can teach programming when it involves the combination of existing instructions in order to cause some computer-based effect. But more than the ability to combine existing instructions is needed in order to invent and construct a generally useful tool such as a graphical layout system or a text editor. These involve skills we typically associate with expert designers. Many of these skills are teachable, especially with the instructional assistance of a personal computer. Supported by several examples of laboratory situations that we have implemented, we propose a design curriculum based on three conceptual areas: process, symbolic representation, and methods of interpretation, especially with respect to the use of information retrieval as an aid in decision making.In the examples we have chosen to describe, the design skills exercised are: simple and conditional sequencing, rule or constraint specification, hypothesis testing and modelling. The particular situations cited are: programming in Smalltalk, computer-based animation, GameX (a game that involves programming by rule specification). ThingLab (a laboratory for describing physical or geometric objects) and a ‘kit’ for assembling event-driven simulations.