Processing empty categories: A parallel approach

In many current theories of human sentence processing, the mechanisms and principles proposed to account for data related to processing (1) long-distance dependencies and (2) structural ambiguities, such as garden-path sentences, are independent, despite the fact that deciding whether or not to posit a gap is just a special case of ambiguity resolution. In this paper we demonstrate how the parallel parsing theory proposed by Gibson (1991, in press)—which was developed to account for nongap ambiguity resolution data—also explains a number of gap-positing facts, without additional strategies. In particular, we show how this theory correctly explains filled-object-gap effects and the lack of filled-subject-gap effects in English, as well as certain gap-processing effects in Dutch.     

Detection, genetic counseling and phenotype prevention of Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Literature data and the own ascertainment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy cases concentrated on the Leipzig county confirm the necessity of early diagnosis and of central registration, search for female carries and genetic counselling. A newborn screening is supported provided that its organization will be practicable. About 12% of Duchenne cases are secondary affections of brothers. It should be possible to prevent one third of all cases by means of counselling also of the female relatives of the mothers. The repeated estimation of serum creatinkinase activity, completed by electromyography, has the greatest practical importance for the identification of heterozygous carriers. For the genetic counselling of definite carriers and women at risk it is possible only to recommend intrauterine sex prediction and the selective abortion of male fetuses.     

Investigation into the effect of fluphenazine hydrochloride (lyorodin) in children with behaviour disorders by means of psychophysiological parameters

In a group of 44 children with behaviour disorders, the mode of action of the phenothiazine preparation fluphenazine hydrochloride (Lyorodin) was tested by means of psychophysiological methods of measurement (critical flicker-fuse frequency and measurement of the response time). In some of the comparative examinations before and after administration of the drug significant differences were found. A defined psychic stress resulted in changed measured values in both methods. Children with cerebral injuries showed a lower degree of reaction after the administration of the preparation than children not encephalopathically affected.     

Performance of an unpleasant task: Effects of over- vs under-payment on perception of adequacy of rewards and task attractiveness

Subjects who came to an experiment expecting to receive a moderate amount of money for performing a task were then told, either before or after performing it, that their pay would be higher than, equal to, or less than they had expected. When the actual payment was announced after the task was performed, subjects' evaluations of the task increased with the amount they were paid; however, they estimated a higher rate of pay to be appropriate if they received either more or less than they expected than if they received what they expected. When the actual payment was announced before the task was performed (and before subjects made their decision to perform it), a different pattern emerged. Subjects rated the task more attractive when they were offered either more or less than the expected amount, while their judgments of the appropriateness of the pay offered increased with the amount of the offer. Implications of the results for incentive and dissonance theories as well as self-perception and equity theories are discussed.     

Diphenylhydantoin stimulation test in Wilson's disease

Coeruloplasmin and diphenylhydantoin levels were studied both in patients who were stabilised for the first time on diphenylhyantoin (300 mg daily) up to reaching a stable serum concentration (N = 6) and during steady-state concentration (N = 25). No significant DPH-dependent influence on the coeruloplasmin level in the serum was found. In our opinion, DPH is no suitable for the stimulation of coeruloplasmin and thus for the diagnosis of Wilson's disease, particularly in the preclinical stage, because absence of coeruloplasmin increase in the serum being found also in healthy persons.     

Episodic psychoses in epileptic juveniles with reference to electroencephalographic findings]

The present paper describes three juveniles affected with epilepsy, who suffered from episodic psychoses. Such disorders are a very rare occurrence in young persons. The patients had grand mal epilepsy with "secondary temporalization". Clinical and electroencepholographic aspects are discussed by reference to these particular cases. Also, the authors deal with questions of classification and etiopathogenesis. Finally, possible causes producing such psychoses and giving rise to the psychopathological character thereof are pointed out within the framework of a multiconditional approach.     

Possibility of research specific utilization of clinical television setups]

The present study is intended to discuss use of video tape technics in psychiatric research in reference to method, engineering and clinical investigation. A self created variant of a clinical television system is debated. With the support of video tape methods will be realize improvements in quality of psychiatric investigation in view of procedure and determination of the results as well as reliability, objectiveness and exactitude in connection with a postgraduate continued professional training. Reconsiderations of psychiatric documentation systems with regard to reliability represent an other important field of employment.     

Sind empirische Theorien falsifizierbar?

Die Frage: sind empirische Theorien falsifizierbar? ist natürlich trivialerweise zu verneinen, falls man Theorien nicht als Mengen von Aussagen, sonden z. B., wie Sneed/Stegmüller, als mengentheoretische Strukturen plus intendierte Anwendungsbereiche auffaßt. Daß die Antwort, zumindest dann, wenn man die Fragestellung auf bestimmte physikalische Theorien einschränkt, auch bei Zugrundelegung der sogenannten Aussagen-Konzeption (statement view) nicht anders lautet, ist hingegen schon weniger trivial — obgleich seit langem bekannt, spätestens nämlich seit Duhems berühmter Argumentation gegen die Möglichkeit eines experimentum crucis. Andererseits beruht eine der derzeit einflußreichsten methodologischen Theorien, die von Popper, gerade auf der gegenteiligen Behauptung. Erst jüngst noch hat Popper seine Falsifizierbarkeits-Annahme, vor allem gegen Kritiken von Lakatos und Putnam, zu verteidigen versucht; die gleiche Intention verfolgen auch zwei Aufsätze von Musgrave. Es erscheint mir daher angebracht, kurz auf das Problem der Falsifizierbarkeit von empirischen Theorien zurückzukommen. Vorweg noch zwei Bemerkungen zur Terminologie: 1) Ich verwende, ohne mich auf den Versuch einer genaueren Explikation einzulassen, den Begriff ?(physikalische) Theorie“ in dem für den statement view geläufigen Sinne, wonach eine (deterministische) Theorie aus einer Menge von allgemeinen (deterministischen Natur-)Gesetzen besteht. Es sei ausdrücklich darauf hingewiesen, daß dies wenigstens partiell dem sonst üblichen Sprachgebrauch zuwider läuft: die ?Theorie des Planetensystems“ und die ?Mondtheorie“, beispielsweise, sind keine Theorien im genannten Sinne, weil sie außer auf allgemeinen Naturgesetzen noch auf spezifischen nicht-gesetzesartigen Annahmen beruhen. Andrerseits dürfte diese Deutung des Begriffs ?Theorie“ zumindest mit derjenigen von Popper übereinstimmen. — 2) Daß eine Aussage bzw. Aussagenmenge T falsifizierbar ist, soll, wie bei Popper, bedeuten, daß Basissätze (wahre oder falsche) existieren, die zusammen mit T eine inkonsistente Satzmenge bilden; m.a.W.: falsifizierbar ist T ?in the simple logical sense of being logically incompatible with some basic statements. It has ‘potential falsifiers’“. Basissätze sind dabei, grob gesagt, als Darstellungen von Beobachtungs-Befunden aufzufassen; Genaueres interessiert hier nur insoweit, als es sich umraum-zeitlich singuläre (Existenz-) Sätze handeln muß. Entsprechend soll schließlich T als falsifiziert gelten, wenn es wahre bzw. anerkannte oder akzeptierte Basissätze gibt, die T widersprechen. (Poppers Forderung, daß diese Basissätze ein reproduzierbares Phänomen beschreiben, also eine — allgemeine — ?falsifizierende Hypothese“ bewähren müssen, kann im vorliegenden Zusammenhang außer Betracht bleiben).