An inexpensive infusion pump suitable for chronic administration of liquids to restrained or unrestrained animals

A self-contained, inexpensive, disposable infusion pump is described for chronic or acute administration of solutions. The pump consists of a modified disposable syringe that is capable of delivering liquids at rates which may be varied. Pressure resulting from a chemical reaction within a chamber propels a rubber piston, which in turn expels liquids at a uniform rate.     

An automatic device for toilet training

A chain of subject-initiated toileting behavior was established and maintained in three enuretic and encopretic profoundly retarded adults through the use of an automatic device which both monitored eliminations and dispensed candy reinforcers. When the device reinforced elimination, the incidence of urinations and defecations in clothing was sharply reduced in each subject, while the frequency of appropriate toileting behavior increased. With the device nonoperative (extinction), the behavior relapsed toward pretraining levels. In reconditioning, with the device again functional, post-training levels were re-established. The device was reliable and was seen to eliminate many of the difficulties inherent in toilet training.     

An inexpensive universal feeder suitable for small numbers of large rations

This report describes a simple universal feeder designed for operant conditioning applications in zoo settings. The apparatus delivers up to six large rations of food. It is portable, easily serviced, and can be constructed in a modest carpentry shop.     

An elastic-energy-relaxation/Monte Carlo hybrid scheme of computer simulation for solids

Abstract

We describe a new method of computer simulation which combines the methods of lattice statics and Monte Carlo importance-sampling. The method is illustrated with a calculation of the zero-Kelvin or configurational chemical potential in the linear deformable lattice gas.     

An apparatus for the automatic presentation of object discriminations to monkeys

Object discriminations have traditionally been presented to monkeys by hand in the Wisconsin General Test Apparatus. This method is time-consuming and prone to various kinds of experimenter error. It has proved possible to administer object discriminations automatically by using a modification of the Gloster Saro VM 51 vending machine. This machine, which has space for up to 371 objects, moves them on trays by two electric motors, and the control circuits of these are adapted for external operation by relays and modular programming equipment. A series of simple object discriminations or a concurrent (serial) discrimination task can then be given by remote control. The objects are so treated that by touching either of them the animal completes a circuit, enabling the response to be recorded and appropriately reinforced. Learning in the apparatus seems to be about as efficient as in the Wisconsin General Test Apparatus.     

Science and God: An automatic opposition between ultimate explanations

Science and religion have come into conflict repeatedly throughout history, and one simple reason for this is the two offer competing explanations for many of the same phenomena. We present evidence that the conflict between these two concepts can occur automatically, such that increasing the perceived value of one decreases the automatic evaluation of the other. In Experiment 1, scientific theories described as poor explanations decreased automatic evaluations of science, but simultaneously increased automatic evaluations of God. In Experiment 2, using God as an explanation increased automatic evaluations of God, but decreased automatic evaluations of science. Religion and science both have the potential to be ultimate explanations, and these findings suggest that this competition for explanatory space can create an automatic opposition in evaluations.