A gene coding for a novel protein specific to the olfactory rosettes of Atlantic salmon.

We have isolated a 1.6 kb clone from a cDNA library made from the olfactory rosettes of the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). The clone contains a 1200 bp, open reading frame (named OSC) which codes for a protein with 400 amino-acid residues (Oscp).

Developmental expression of a voltage-dependent potassium channel (Kv3.1) in auditory neurons without cochlear input.

Kv3.1, a voltage-dependent potassium channel, has two forms, -a and -b, which differ in expression during development and at the onset of function in the auditory system. To determine whether cochlear nerve input could affect the expression of these two forms, cultures of the developing cochlear nucleus were explanted in the absence of the cochlear nerve at the beginning of cell migration (Hamburger-Hamilton stage 28-30), while neuroblasts continued to migrate onto the culture substrate.

Transitional choice behavior in concurrent-chain schedules.

The choice responses of four pigeons were examined in 20 periods of transition in a concurrent-chain procedure with variable-interval schedules as initial links and fixed delays to reinforcement as terminal links. In some conditions, the delays to reinforcement were different for the two terminal links, and changes in preference were recorded after the delays for the two response keys were switched. In other conditions, the reinforcer delays were equal for the two keys, but which key delivered 80% of the reinforcers was periodically switched.

Maximum length sequences-auditory brainstem responses from children with auditory processing disorders.

This study was designed to evaluate maximum length sequences-auditory brainstem responses (MLS-ABR) in children with auditory processing disorders and to compare these results with a normal control group matched for age, intelligence, and gender. Although each waveform was analyzed for the presence of waves I, III, and V, the primary focus was wave V. Although absolute latency measures for wave V were obtained from all subjects, waves I and III were not always identified.

Strategies for enhancing student learning by managing ambiguities in clinical settings.

Have you ever watched as care providers, be they student nurses or staff nurses, display behaviors that seem to indicate that they are becoming overwhelmed by situations in the acute care setting? Have you also observed other providers who seem to thrive on the "challenges" presented by these same situations? The same situation stimulates responses that reflect opposite ends of a continuum, the continuum of tolerance of ambiguity. The nurse educator needs to develop a greater understanding of the elements in the clinical situation (the ambiguities) that have stimulated the behavioral responses, and how an individual's level of tolerance of ambiguity influences reactions to the ambiguous situations. These understandings provide the nurse educator with the foundation for developing teaching strategies to facilitate effective management of ambiguous situations in clinical settings.

Hyperbolic value addition and general models of animal choice.

Three mathematical models of choice--the contextual-choice model (R. Grace, 1994), delay-reduction theory (N. Squires & E.

TBI knowledge and pragmatic assessment among Connecticut school speech-language pathologists.

School-based speech-language pathologists from Connecticut responded to a random survey which had a twofold purpose, (1) to replicate a previous conclusion that clinicians' specific experience with traumatic brain injury (TBI) influences their knowledge of this subject, and (2) to explore the topic of pragmatic assessment and whether it is also influenced by specific TBI experience. Results indicate that Connecticut school clinicians favourably regard both their own knowledge of TBI and the contemporary issue of pragmatic assessment. Connecticut clinicians also report a relatively low degree of prior TBI training and clinical experience.

For-profit chains seek to acquire successful not-for-profit hospitals.

Over the last decade, investor-owned hospital corporations have grown primarily by acquiring other for-profit hospital chains or stand-alone for-profit institutions. Between 1990 and 1995, however, these corporations also acquired nearly 50 not-for-profit hospitals and converted them to for-profit status. An examination of the long-term financial condition of 39 not-for-profit hospitals acquired by various investor-owned hospital corporations between 1992 and 1996 was conducted using free-cash-flow accounting valuation.

A focus group study of DES daughters: implications for health care providers.

A focus group study of women exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero (DES daughters) was conducted to gain understanding about exposure to this drug from a patient perspective. Focus group participants reported that learning about their DES exposure was devastating; they experienced strains in their family relationships, emotional shock, a feeling that their health concerns were not appreciated by others and, to some degree, a sense of social isolation. Although many were aware of the need for special gynecological exams and high-risk prenatal care, they were frustrated by what they felt was a lack of reliable and clear information about the effects of DES exposure.

"Putting things in context": literal and discourse approaches to comprehension assessment.

Research on receptive language development in typical children, especially as explicated in a classic paper by Robin Chapman, is reviewed. These findings raise three challenges for clinicians assessing comprehension in children with language disorders: (1) contrary to popular wisdom, comprehension does not always precede production in a simple step-by-step way; (2) comprehension is a private event; indicators of comprehension must be used to assess it, and these indicators can be misleading; and (3) children with subtle comprehension deficits may do well on standardized tests that are not sensitive to their difficulties with real-time discourse. Some strategies for addressing these challenges, as well as a framework for assessing comprehension, are offered.

Two- versus three-alternative concurrent-chain schedules: a test of three models.

Two experiments with pigeons used concurrent-chain procedures with variable-interval schedules as initial links and different delays to food as terminal links. Two schedules were present in all sessions, but a 3rd schedule was alternately present and absent in successive sessions. When the 3rd schedule delivered food with no terminal-link delay, the presence of this schedule led to an increase in preference for the schedule with the shorter terminal link of the 2 unchanged schedules.

Early and chronic stress and their relation to breast cancer.

Background: The study examined the role of parental death and chronic depression with severe episodes in affecting risk of breast cancer. This avenue of research is in accord with oncology findings, which suggests that causative factors of breast cancer occur and develop over a period of 20 years or longer.

Methods: Participants consisted of 1213 women in the Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area study surveyed in 1980 and followed through 1994-1995.

Critical thinking skills of baccalaureate nursing students at program entry and exit.

Most nurse educators would agree that critical thinking is an essential competency for the professional nurse in today's ever-changing health care environment. In fact, critical thinking has been identified as an integral component of professional nursing practice and has been incorporated in accreditation guidelines (1-3). As a result of this imperative, professional programs of nursing must explicate a clear definition of critical thinking, identify specific learning outcomes reflective of critical thinking abilities, and select appropriate ways to measure the achievement of these outcomes in graduating students.

Tradeoffs among delay, rate, and amount of reinforcement.

In Experiment 1, an adjusting-delay procedure was used to measure pigeons' choices between a single delayed reinforcer and a range of different variable-time schedules. Indifference points showed an inverse relation between rate of reinforcement and delay that was well described by a hyperbolic equation. An adjusting-amount procedure was used in Experiment 2, in which pigeons chose between an adjusting amount of food delivered after a 0.

A longitudinal study of emotion expression and personality relations in early development.

To investigate emotion expression and personality relations, the authors coded infants' full-face and component positive and negative expressions during Episodes 4 through 8 of the strange situation procedure at age 18 months and obtained maternal ratings of the 5-factor model of personality when children were 3.5 years old. Full-face negative expression was directly related to Neuroticism and inversely related to Agreeableness and Conscientiousness.

Preferences for and against stimuli paired with food.

Pigeons were presented with a concurrent-chains schedule in which terminal-link entries were assigned to two response keys on a percentage basis. The terminal links were fixed delays that sometimes ended with food and sometimes did not. In most conditions, 80% of the terminal links were assigned to one key, but a smaller percentage of the terminal links ended with food for this key, so the number of food reinforcers delivered by the two alternatives was equal.

Outcomes assessment: implications for nursing education.

In response to public criticisms about the outcomes of higher education, colleges and universities have implemented comprehensive assessment programs. In nursing education, outcomes assessment has become a criteria for accreditation. Yet, currently no guidelines exist describing "best practices" in nursing education outcomes assessment.

Do managerial efficiency and social responsibility drive long-term financial performance of not-for-profit hospitals before acquisition?

Due to steep declines in charitable support and reduced demand for traditional hospital services, economic goals are increasingly important to not-for-profit hospitals. Effects of efficient management and effective pursuit of not-for-profit status (for example, levels of Medicare, indigent patients, and unprofitable services) on financial viability are explored. While previous research compared hospitals of different ownership status, not-for-profit hospital operations before acquisition by for-profit hospital chains are investigated--"neutral ground" relative to ownership.

Assessing speech, language and communication.

This article discusses the assessment of communication skills in children from birth to 5 years of age. The different methods appropriate for different developmental levels and the relationship of collateral areas, such as hearing, cognition, and speech motor control to the communication process, are addressed. The need for standardized and informal measures is emphasized.

Multiplex developmental disorders. The role of communication in the construction of a self.

This article discusses the integration of various aspects of the child's development, particularly the development of language and communication and the way in which these developments interact to enable the child to construct a coherent sense of self. Multiplex developmental disorder is presented as an example of a disorder that affects several of these crucial strands of development. Recent research and controversies regarding the diagnostic descriptions of multiplex and other pervasive developmental disorders are presented.

Family-centered practice for children with communication disorders.

In conclusion, it should be kept in mind that family-centered practice is not merely a theoretical construct or philosophical position. Its practical implementation assumes that virtually any variety of options for how the family, child, and professionals will interface and collaborate will be possible, based on the needs and wishes of the family, community make-up, and the complexity of issues involved. As providers of service in a critical area of development, communication, we must be mindful of the many individual, social, and political factors, such as cultural and racial background, poverty, prejudice, mental and other health issues, managed care in medical practice, outcomes-based service models, and funding sources, that will impinge on this relationship.

Assessing communication in children with psychiatric and communication disorders.

This article presents issues related to the communication assessment of children with psychiatric and communication disorders. Challenges inherent in assessing this population are discussed. Frequently used assessment instruments and procedures are described.