Integration as Service: Implications of Faith-Praxis Integration for Training

Faith-praxis integration should be given further attention as the integration of applied psychology and Christian theology proceeds. The authors outline a rationale for faith-praxis integration based upon patterns of mental health needs and resources in the U.S. and for a Kingdom mandate. Implications of a faith-praxis perspective for trainers of Christian psychologists are suggested in relation to a program’s missions statement, faculty, course work, practical training, research, and relationship to the community. Selected activities of existing Christian psychology training programs are included to illustrate these implications. Ongoing discussion is invited concerning this emerging area of integration

Student perception of workplace-based assessment.

Workplace-based assessment (WPBA) is key to medical education, providing a framework through which the trainee can be assessed and receive feedback in the clinical setting. WPBA was introduced in 2008-2009 to students in year 4 at University College London Medical School (UCLMS). Students raised concerns about the lack of standardisation in grading. As a result, white-space areas were introduced on WPBA forms. The aim of this was to permit assessors to expand their feedback, thereby enhancing its developmental potential. The aim of the project was to assess student perception of WPBA at UCLMS, and to determine whether re-designing the form had altered this perception

Lessons from LIMK1 enzymology and their impact on inhibitor design

LIM domain kinase 1 (LIMK1) is a key regulator of actin dynamics. It is thereby a potential therapeutic target for the prevention of fragile X syndrome and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Herein, we use X-ray crystallography and activity assays to describe how LIMK1 accomplishes substrate specificity, to suggest a unique ‘rock-and-poke’ mechanism of catalysis and to explore the regulation of the kinase by activation loop phosphorylation. Based on these findings, a differential scanning fluorimetry assay and a RapidFire mass spectrometry activity assay were established, leading to the discovery and confirmation of a set of small-molecule LIMK1 inhibitors. Interestingly, several of the inhibitors were inactive towards the closely related isoform LIMK2. Finally, crystal structures of the LIMK1 kinase domain in complex with inhibitors (PF-477736 and staurosporine, respectively) are presented, providing insights into LIMK1 plasticity upon inhibitor binding

Training Psychologists to Work With Religious Organizations: The Center for Church-Psychology Collaboration

Church-psychology collaboration is gaining attention among professional psychologists, but few training or practical research opportunities are available for those interested in collaborating with religious leaders and organizations. The authors introduce the Center for Church-Psychology Collaboration (CCPC), with its mission to make sustained and relevant contributions to the research literature in psychology, train doctoral students in effective means of collaborating with religious organizations, and provide service to religious communities throughout the world. Domestic and global implications are discussed

Concentrations of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I in Blood and Ovarian Follicular Fluid of Cattle Selected for Twins

Recent studies have implicated insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) as an intraovarian regulator of follicular growth and differentiation. Therefore, we investigated the possibility that cattle selected for twin births may have increased concentrations of IGF-I within the ovarian follicle and(or) in peripheral blood. The estrous cycles of 14 cows with histories of producing twins and 12 control monotocous cows were synchronized with 35 mg of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α). Blood and follicular fluid were collected 48-50 h post-administration of PGF2α. (follicular phase of the estrous cycle). Concentrations of IGF-I were measured by RJA after acid-ethanol treatment of serum or follicular fluid. Twin-producing cows had a greater (p \u3c 0.05) number of large (\u3e4 mm) follicles and 47% greater (p \u3c 0.05) concentrations of IGF-I in peripheral blood than control cows. Cattle selected for high twinning frequency also had greater (p \u3c 0.05) concentrations of IGF-I (±SE) in the two largest follicles than control (unselected) cows (327 ± 28 vs. 243 ± 29 ng/ml). IGF-I concentrations in pooled small (1-3.9 mm) follicles were less (p \u3c 0.05) than in large follicles but did not differ between control and twin-producing cattle. In addition, the percentage of IGF-I concentrations measured in follicular fluid to that of serum was lower (P \u3c 0.05) in small follicles than in large follicles, and was greater (p \u3c0.05) in large follicles of control (93.2 ± 5.3%) than twin-producing (76.2 ± 4.4%) cattle. Moreover, concentrations of IGF-I in serum and follicular fluid were correlated positively (r = 0.69, p \u3c 0.01). Concentrations of estradiol and progesterone in follicular fluid of small or large follicles did not differ between control and twin-producing cattle. Collectively, the present study provides evidence suggesting that natural twinning in cattle is associated with increased concentrations of IGF-I in both blood and follicular fluid. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that IGF-I plays a role in the regulation of folliculogenesis and is a mediator of a genetic component of multiple ovulations in cattle

Carbon superatom thin films

Assembling clusters on surfaces has emerged as a novel way to grow thin films with targeted properties. In particular, it has been proposed from experimental findings that fullerenes deposited on surfaces could give rise to thin films retaining the bonding properties of the incident clusters. However the microscopic structure of such films is still unclear. By performing quantum molecular dynamics simulations, we show that C_28 fullerenes can be deposited on a surface to form a thin film of nearly defect free molecules, which act as carbon superatoms. Our findings help clarify the structure of disordered small fullerene films and also support the recently proposed hyperdiamond model for solid C_28.Comment: 13 pages, RevTeX, 2 figures available as black and white PostScript files; color PostScript and/or gif files available upon reques

Developing an On-Line Interactive Health Psychology Module.

On-line teaching material in health psychology was developed which ensured a range of students could access appropriate material for their course and level of study. This material has been developed around the concept of smaller 'content chunks' which can be combined into whole units of learning (topics), and ultimately, a module. On the basis of the underlying philosophy that the medium is part of the message, we considered interactivity to be a key element in engaging the student with the material. Consequently, the key aim of this development was to stimulate and engage students, promoting better involvement with the academic material, and hence better learning. It was hoped that this was achieved through the development of material including linked programmes and supporting material, small Java Scripts and basic email, forms and HTML additions. This material is outlined as are some of the interactive activities introduced, and the preliminary student and tutor experience described

Contrasting the beam interaction characteristics of selected lasers with a partially stabilised zirconia (PSZ) bio-ceramic

Differences in the beam interaction characteristics of a CO2 laser, a Nd:YAG laser, a high power diode laser (HPDL) and an excimer laser with a partially stabilised zirconia (PSZ) bio-ceramic have been studied. A derivative of Beer-Lambert’s law was applied and the laser beam absorption lengths of the four lasers were calculated as 33.55 x 10-3 cm for the CO2 laser, 18.22 x 10-3 cm for the Nd:YAG laser, 17.17 x 10-3 cm for the HPDL and 8.41 x 10-6 cm for the excimer laser. It was determined graphically that the fluence threshold values at which significant material removal was effected by the CO2 laser, the Nd:YAG laser, the HPDL and the excimer laser were 52 J/cm2, 97 J/cm2, 115 J/cm2 and 0.48 J/cm2 respectively. The thermal loading value for the CO2 laser, the Nd:YAG laser, the HPDL and the excimer laser were calculated as being 1.55 kJ/cm3, 5.32 kJ/cm3, 6.69 kJ/cm3 and 57.04 kJ/cm3 respectively