Supervision groups for health advisers working with patients with HIV disease

This paper describes a case supervision group with health advisors working in a clinic specializing in the treatment of patients with HIV Infection. Themes discussed in the group are presented with an evaluation of the group intervention, some consideration of group process and the health advisers views on their work. This is discussed in relation to present research into occupational stress in this field.     

Prisoners and locus of control: initial assessments of a specific scale.

The relatively few studies conducted with prisoners' locus of control suggest an important relationship between locus of control and prisoners' adjustment. However, one obstacle to further development of this knowledge is lack of appropriate measurement. This paper is an account of initial assessments conducted with a locus of control measure specific to the prison environment. All tests support the reliability and validity of the scale. Results of the assessments also indicate changes which should be made to improve the psychometric properties of the scale. Further assessments will need to be conducted after the instrument is revised. Use of the Prison Locus of Control scale should facilitate and lend accuracy to research with prisoners. The scale items are provided.     

Upper and lower body strength in relation to underhand pitching speed by experienced and inexperienced pitchers.

The relation of legs, arms, shoulders, and grip strength with underhand pitching speed of experienced and inexperienced female pitchers was investigated. For 16 experienced female underhand pitchers and 16 inexperienced women with no softball experience (control group) leg and arm strength were measured using a Hydrafitness exercise machine. Grip strength was measured with a handgrip dynamometer. Underhand throwing speed was measured with a radar gun. Regression analysis showed arm and grip strength correlated with throwing speed (p < or = .05) for the experienced group. For the inexperienced control group, the only correlate of throwing speed was arm strength (p < or = .05). There was a significant difference between the two groups on all measures of strength and ball speed in favor of the experienced group (p < or = .05).     

The angular gyrus in developmental dyslexia: task-specific differences in functional connectivity within posterior cortex

Converging evidence from neuroimaging studies of developmental dyslexia reveals dysfunction at posterior brain regions centered in and around the angular gyrus in the left hemisphere. We examined functional connectivity (covariance) between the angular gyrus and related occipital and temporal lobe sites, across a series of print tasks that systematically varied demands on phonological assembly. Results indicate that for dyslexic readers a disruption in functional connectivity in the language-dominant left hemisphere is confined to those tasks that make explicit demands on assembly. In contrast, on print tasks that do not require phonological assembly, functional connectivity is strong for both dyslexic and nonimpaired readers. The findings support the view that neurobiological anomalies in developmental dyslexia are largely confined to the phonological-processing domain. In addition, the findings suggest that right-hemisphere posterior regions serve a compensatory role in mediating phonological performance in dyslexic readers.     

Victim Ambiguity: Bystander Intervention and Sexual Assault in the College Drinking Scene

Alcohol-related sexual assault is the most common form of sexual victimization on college campuses. Bystander intervention has been suggested as effective in preventing sexual assault, but its usefulness in sexual assaults that involve alcohol in particular has not yet been examined. The current study draws from intensive interviews with 30 undergraduates at a large Midwestern university to understand how students’ perceptions about sexual victimization and alcohol use affect their bystander behavior. Findings suggest that in alcohol-involved situations, the ambiguity of whether the woman is at risk and her perceived worthiness are significant barriers to intervention. Policy implications are discussed.