Mothers' supervision of their children's peer play: Relations with beliefs, perceptions, and knowledge.

Mothers (N?=?76) of 3- to 5-year-old children completed questionnaires assessing beliefs in the importance and modifiability (vs. innateness) of children's peer relationship skills, perceptions of their children's social competence with peers, and strategies they would use in response to children's peer interaction problems. A subsample of mothers (n?=?34) was observed supervising the play of their own children and a peer. Maternal perceptions of children's competence were negatively associated with the extent of mothers' involvement in children's play, whereas the quality of supervision was predicted by knowledge of socialization strategies and the interaction of beliefs and knowledge. Beliefs appeared to moderate the effects of maternal knowledge on mothers' behavior in that knowledge was associated with the quality of supervision only when mothers believed social skills were important and modifiable. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

High-spatial resolution mass spectrometric imaging of peptide and protein distributions on a surface

For the first time macromolecular ion microscope images have been recorded using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). Single-shot, mass-resolved images of the spatial distributions of intact peptide and protein ions over an area of 200 microm in diameter were obtained in less than 1 ms at a repetition rate of 12 Hz. The magnifying ion optics of the ion microscope allowed ion images to be obtained with a lateral resolution of 4 microm. These results prove the concept of high-resolution MALDI-MS imaging in microscope mode without the need for a tight laser focus and the accompanying sensitivity losses. The ion microscopy approach offers an improvement of several orders of magnitude in speed of acquisition compared to the conventional (microprobe) approach to MALDI-MS imaging.     

Using matrix peaks to map topography: increased mass resolution and enhanced sensitivity in chemical imaging

It is well known in secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) that sample topography leads to decreased mass resolution. Specifically, the ion's time of flight is dependent on where it was generated. Here, using matrix-enhanced SIMS, it is demonstrated that, in addition to increasing the yield of intact pseudomolecular ions, the matrix allows the user to semiquantitatively record the topography of a sample. Through mapping the topography-related mass shifts of the matrix (which leads to decreased mass resolution), the analogous mass shifts of higher mass ions can be deconvoluted and higher resolution and greater sensitivity obtained. Furthermore, the semiquantitative topographical map obtained can be compared with any chemical images obtained, allowing the user to quickly ascertain whether local intensity maximums are due to topological features or represent genuine features of interest.     

Semiautomatic image analysis for grain counting in in situ hybridization experiments

We have developed a computer image analysis procedure for counting autoradiographic grains in in situ hybridization experiments. The procedure automatically estimates the number of autoradiographic grains over cells and measures cell number and size so that grain density per unit cell area can be calculated. Advantages include the clear separation of grains and cells, using chromatic and spatial filters to enhance the image; the use of gray level operators to extract cells from grains; and the use of binary operators for separating apposed or partially overlapping cells and grains. Comparison of manual and automated grain counts revealed a significant correlation between human and computer estimations of grain number. However, the automatic grain counting technique consistently underestimated the number of grains when grain density was high. Measures of the fractional area occupied by grains normalized by the average area of a single grain were a better estimate at high grain densities. The procedure can be modified easily to operate on most image analyzers.     

Predicting preschoolers' peer behavior and status from their interpersonal strategies: A comparison of verbal and enactive responses to hypothetical social dilemmas.

The purposes of this study were (a) to compare a verbal and an enactive procedure for assessing preschool children's social strategies in hypothetical situations in terms of their ability to predict social behavior with peers and peer acceptance and (b) to examine some of the psychometric properties of the two assessment methods. Children's responses to a set of hypothetical social situations were elicited both with puppets and props (enactive assessment) and with a set of pictures (verbal assessment). The responses were rated in terms of their friendliness and assertiveness. Enactive friendliness ratings contributed significantly to regression equations predicting teacher and observer ratings of prosocial and aggressive behavior but not to peer group acceptance, whereas the verbal method contributed little predictive power beyond that provided by the enactive ratings. Implications for social skill assessment and intervention with children are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Further studies of degossypolized cottonseed meal as a source of plant protein in rabbit feeds

Degossypolized cottonseed meal was fed to mature female rabbits throughout four successive litters, using a split-plot randomized block design. When used as a replacement for soybean meal, at levels of 4, 7, 10 and 13% of the diet, no significant diet responses were found in the analyses of total litter weaning weight, average individual weaning weight, percentage mortality, number weaned, or feed conversion. However, block and litter effects on litter weight were significant, suggesting genetic differences, and the means for litter weights and mortality suggested an adverse effect at the 10 and 13% levels. Results indicated that at levels of 4 and 7% degossypolized cottonseed meal may serve as a satisfactory substitute for soybean meal in the rabbit diet.     

Evidence-based practice and the culture of adolescence.

Evidence-based practice requires attention to the client context, including client culture. We propose that the developmental period of adolescence is characterized by a unique culture that has important implications for evidence-based practice. Specifically, this paper explores three features of adolescent culture (importance of technology, centrality of peers, and the ongoing challenge of identity formation and individuation) that may be especially salient when treating adolescents. We then provide recommendations for how these features can be addressed in adapting existing evidence-based protocols and designing new interventions for adolescents, using examples from the literature to illustrate innovative applications. Overall, we argue that considering adolescent culture and thoughtfully tailoring treatment to that culture is consistent with the evidence-based practice framework and could enhance therapeutic outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Durability evaluation of software error correction on a machining center

Machine tool software error correction has been successfully demonstrated in laboratories for at least the last 20 years. However, no results could be found that evaluate the durability of such an approach. To be cost beneficial for industry, the time consuming measurement procedure needs to be as infrequent as possible. This study attempts to quantify the durability of such an approach on a commercial 3-Axis machining center. A traditional correction model is created and implemented inside the control system along with a first order thermal correction of the scales. Measurements are made with the Laser Ball Bar, which minimizes data collection to less than 30 min. The compensation system was evaluated over a 9 month period in which the machine experienced normal machining and common mishaps (tool crash). The results show that during this 9 month period, the compensation system was still capable of significantly reducing the machine's inherent errors.     

A formal structure for discrete event simulation. Part II: Object-oriented software implementation for manufacturing systems

This paper describes the development of a prototype object-oriented software system for discrete event simulation and the embedded decision processes of a system being modeled based on previously defined formalism [1] and the Smalltalk programming language. The paper addresses the modular and structured representations of physical and logical entities of a manufacturing system for simulation modeling in the form of reusable software objects. The software takes advantage of the natural link between object-oriented programming and simulation and utilizes inheritance and other features of object-oriented programming to achieve modular yet uniform representation at every level of the model. After giving a brief overview of the object-oriented modeling environment and the relationships between software objects and formalism constructs, a small number of object classes and their operations are summarized. The intelligent entities of the formalism utilize a knowledge-based non-programmed decision mechanism implemented in Smalltalk.