An Auto-Multi-Stimulation Reaction Board for Use with Sub-Human Primates

Subjects (N = 164) were divided into four groups on the basis of their driving records: no accidents or moving violations, two or more violations, one or more accidents, and no accidents. They were compared on various personality, attitudinal, drug usage, and biographical variables. The less safe drivers scored significantly higher on a sensation-seeking scale; were more likely to have experimented with such drugs as marijuana, hashish, amphetamines, LSD, etc.; attended religious services less often; and were less likely to own their residences. There were also differences in political attitudes and life-style preferences among the groups.     

On the internal structure of Guinier-Preston zones in Al-3 at.% Ag

High-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy has been employed to study partially decomposed Al-3 at.% Ag. After solutionizing at 550°C and quenching to room temperature, samples of an Al-3 at.% Ag single crystal were aged for short times at 105, 140 and 180°C. Independent of the ageing temperature for these early stages, Guinier-Preston zones with a diameter of about 3 nm are found. Most of these zones consist of a silver-depleted core surrounded by a silver-rich shell. The shell structure is not uniformly pronounced. Irregularly shaped Guinier-Preston zones are common, but the shell structure dominates. No indication of different structures of the Guinier-Preston zones in Al-3 at.% Ag was found after short ageing at the three different temperatures. The shell model for Guinier-Preston zones in aluminium-rich Al-Ag alloys, which was previously proposed on the basis of X-ray and neutron scattering experiments, is thus appropriate to describe the structure of the Guinier-Preston zones in the early stages of the decomposition.     

Visual categorization of social interactions

Prominent theories of action recognition suggest that during the recognition of actions the physical patterns of the action is associated with only one action interpretation (e.g., a person waving his arm is recognized as waving). In contrast to this view, studies examining the visual categorization of objects show that objects are recognized in multiple ways (e.g., a VW Beetle can be recognized as a car or a beetle) and that categorization performance is based on the visual and motor movement similarity between objects. Here, we studied whether we find evidence for multiple levels of categorization for social interactions (physical interactions with another person, e.g., handshakes). To do so, we compared visual categorization of objects and social interactions (Experiments 1 and 2) in a grouping task and assessed the usefulness of motor and visual cues (Experiments 3, 4, and 5) for object and social interaction categorization. Additionally, we measured recognition performance associated with recognizing objects and social interactions at different categorization levels (Experiment 6). We found that basic level object categories were associated with a clear recognition advantage compared to subordinate recognition but basic level social interaction categories provided only a little recognition advantage. Moreover, basic level object categories were more strongly associated with similar visual and motor cues than basic level social interaction categories. The results suggest that cognitive categories underlying the recognition of objects and social interactions are associated with different performances. These results are in line with the idea that the same action can be associated with several action interpretations (e.g., a person waving his arm can be recognized as waving or greeting).     

A Model of Professional Development for Practicing Genetic Counselors: Adaptation of Communication Skills Training in Oncology

Ongoing professional development for practicing genetic counselors is critical in maintaining best practice. Communication skills training (CST) workshops for doctors in oncology, utilizing trained actors in role plays, have been implemented for many years to improve patient-centred communication. This model was adapted to provide professional development in counseling skills for practicing genetic counselors, already highly trained in counseling skills. Detailed evidence based scenarios were developed. Evaluation of participants’ experience and perceived outcomes on practice included surveys immediately post workshops (2002, 2004, 2005, 2008 (×2); n = 88/97), 2–5 years later (2007; n = 21/38) and a focus group (2007; n = 7). All rated workshops as effective training. Aspects highly valued included facilitator feedback, actors rather than role-playing with peers and being able to stop and try doing things differently. Perceived outcomes included the opportunity to reflect on practice; bring focus to communication; motivation and confidence. The high level of satisfaction is a strong endorsement for ongoing communication skills training in this format as part of professional development.     

自我描述的尝试

罗姆巴赫是在对胡塞尔和海德格尔现象学方法的批判基础上找到自身的道路,即“结构现象学”。“结构存在论”不再囿于仅仅讨论人的缘在,而是放眼一切生存形式,关注人、自然和世界的共创性;对“生成”和“过程”的重视,取代了旧哲学传统中对实体和体系的静态关注。他致力于“将发生现象学、历史思维和存在思维转变为一种包罗万象的结构发生”(B.Waldenfelds),并将兴趣延伸到艺术、人类学、宗教学和多元文化讨论等领域。由此衍生的基本哲学,境象哲学,密释学,结构人类学以及对话等概念成为其思想体系的主干。     

Assessing problems of cancer patients: psychometric properties of the cancer inventory of problem situations

Evaluated the psychometric properties of the Cancer Inventory of Problem Situations (CIPS), a cancer-specific survey instrument designed to assess day-to-day problems and rehabilitation needs of cancer patients. A heterogeneous group of 479 cancer patients participated in the research. The substructure of the CIPS was investigated using factor-analytic techniques. The CIPS was factored into 31 clinically useful subscales. Further analyses led to five higher order factors representing the physical, psychosocial, medical interaction, marital, and sexual problem areas characteristic of cancer and its treatment. Internal consistency of all the scales was high (mean alpha = .81). The test-retest reliability and validity of the instrument were also studied in a sample of 120 patients. Analyses of items, subscales, higher order factors, and total CIPS scores suggest excellent reliability. The pattern of correlations of the CIPS with other measures (psychological distress; physical, marital, and sexual functioning; and quality of life) provided preliminary evidence of concurrent, discriminant, and convergent validity. The CIPS appears to have sound psychometric properties and fills an important gap in the assessment of cancer patients for both clinical and research purposes.     

The Factor Structure of the Personality Research Form: A Cross-National Evaluation

ABSTRACT The present research examined the generalizability of the factor structure of the Personality Research Form (PRF) across various populations. A common methodology was used for factoring 18 data bases from largely differing samples (including data from one Asian and two European countries). In accordance with previous research results, five factors were rotated in every case and compared with two target factor solutions. A mean congruence coefficient of .93 as well as similar proportions of variance explained by the factors in the various populations indicated a large amount of generalizability for that structure. An alternative but similar structure, which had been interpreted in terms of the so-called "Big Five" factors of personality, proved to be only slightly less generalizable. It was concluded that the fairly abstract constructs of both PRF factor structures are useful for describing personality in the cultures under study, leaving room for the possibility of more subtle or specific differences between the populations.     

The effects of voluntary hyperventilation on patients with chest pain without coronary artery disease

The present investigation was designed to examine panic symptom experience in patients with chest pain of nonorganic etiology, using a hyperventilation provocation procedure. Given the recent focus on panic disorder in patients with nonorganic chest pain, we assessed three indices of physiological arousal, subjective anxiety, and endorsement of DSM-III-R panic symptomatology in response to 3 min of voluntary hyperventilation. Subjects included 23 patients with nonorganic chest pain (CP sample) and matched normal controls (NC sample). The results indicate that hyperventilation produced significant increases in skin conductance, heart rate, and upper trapezious EMG in both CP and NC samples. Despite equivalent levels of physiological arousal and subjective anxiety, the CP sample endorsed a greater number of DSM-III-R panic symptoms relative to the NC sample. Examination of post-hyperventilation symptoms indicated that a greater percentage of the CP sample reported palpitations, nausea, and chest pain when compared with normals. Comparison of CP patients with and without Panic Disorder revealed no significant differences on any measure. The results suggests that hyperventilation plays a role in symptom experience in patients with nonorganic chest pain, although anxiety does not appear central in moderating this effect.