Outsourcing Memory to External Tools: A Review of 'Intention Offloading'.

How do we remember delayed intentions? Three decades of research into prospective memory have provided insight into the cognitive and neural mechanisms involved in this form of memory. However, we depend on more than just our brains to remember intentions. We also use external props and tools such as calendars and diaries, strategically placed objects, and technologies such as smartphone alerts. This is known as 'intention offloading'. Despite the progress in our understanding of brain-based prospective memory, we know much less about the role of intention offloading in individuals' ability to fulfil delayed intentions. Here, we review recent research into intention offloading, with a particular focus on how individuals decide between storing intentions in internal memory versus external reminders. We also review studies investigating how intention offloading changes across the lifespan and how it relates to underlying brain mechanisms. We conclude that intention offloading is highly effective, experimentally tractable, and guided by metacognitive processes. Individuals have systematic biases in their offloading strategies that are stable over time. Evidence also suggests that individual differences and developmental changes in offloading strategies are driven at least in part by metacognitive processes. Therefore, metacognitive interventions could play an important role in promoting individuals' adaptive use of cognitive tools.

Corrigendum to "Cytotoxicity Assessment of PM2.5 Collected from Specific Anthropogenic Activities in Taiwan".

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Cytotoxicity Assessment of PM2.5 Collected from Specific Anthropogenic Activities in Taiwan.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from different sources with different components have different health impact. In this research in Taiwan, composition and cytotoxicity of PM2.5 from long-range transport event (LRT), traffic activity, and outdoor cooking at night market were studied. The PM2.5 mass concentrations were 39.0 µg/m3 during LRT, 42.9 µg/m3 at traffic area, and 28.3 µg/m3 at the night market. Traffic area had highest concentrations of PCDD/Fs (46.9 fg I-TEQ/m3) when highest PAH concentrations of 3.57 BaPeq-ng/m3 were found at night market area. One quarter of PM2.5 mass at LRT and night market was constituted by water-soluble ion (26.02-28.93%). Road dust (represented by high concentration of Al and Ca) was the main contributor for metal element at traffic station whereas presence of natural salt (Na and Cl elements) was a marker of LRT and cooking activities. Cell viability reduced 9% after exposure to organic extracts of 0.316 µg of PM2.5 from LRT and night market samples. 150% elevation of ROS production was observed after exposure with organic compound of night market samples at the dose equivalent to 10.0 µg PM2.5. Organic extracts from night market induced positive genotoxicity in umu test (at a dose of 20.0 µg PM2.5).

The Concerns about Counseling Racial Minority Clients scale.

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the Concerns about Counseling Racial Minority Clients (CCRMC) scale among counselor trainees. Sample 1 was used for an exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Four factors were identified, Managing Cultural Differences (α = .82), Offending or Hurting Clients (α = .87), Biased Thoughts and Behaviors (α = .81), and Client Perceptions (α = .77). The coefficient alpha for the CCRMC was .90. The results support the validity of the scale. The scores on the CCRMC and its subscales have positive associations with fear of negative evaluation from others (r = .19 to .40) and negative associations with general counseling self-efficacy (r = -.30 to -.46) and multicultural intervention self-efficacy (r = -.30 to -.64). The CCRMC significantly predicted fear of negative evaluation, session management self-efficacy, and multicultural intervention self-efficacy over and above multicultural social desirability. The validity evidence was not different between White and minority graduate trainees. In Sample 2, the estimated 1-week test-retest reliabilities ranged from .75 to .96 for the CCRMC and its four subscales.

Psychometric properties of the Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment-Second Edition in Taiwanese persons with schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to determine the psychometric properties for the Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment-Second Edition (LOTCA-II) in a population of persons with schizophrenia. METHOD: Sixty-four participants with schizophrenia were administered the LOTCA-II at baseline, and 43 of these were randomly selected to undertake four more standardized measures of cognitive and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) functions to test convergent validity. One week later, 48 randomly selected participants from the total sample were readministered the LOTCA-II to determine test-retest reliability. RESULTS: Substantial ceiling effects existed in 96% of LOTCA-II items. Cronbach's alpha for all six sub-tests ranged from .20 to .91; the alpha for the global scale was .90. Intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from .49 to .89 for the subtests and .95 for the full LOTCA-II. Low to moderate correlations were found between LOTCA-II total score and scores on cognitive and IADL measures. No overall significant differences in subtest scores were found across participants differing in employment status. CONCLUSION: LOTCA-II performance is best interpreted in the context of total score. Further revision of the test items is recommended for a more reliable and valid use of the LOTCA-II in persons with schizophrenia.