A REVIEW OF COMPARISON STUDIES IN APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS

A commonly used research design in applied behavior analysis involves comparing two or more independent variables. Typically, the relative effectiveness of two different interventions is measured on a single dependent variable. In the current review, 54 comparison studies from seven different peer‐reviewed, behavior analytic journals were evaluated between the years 2002 and 2011. Each study was evaluated across seven dimensions: (1) experimental design, (2) setting, (3) participants, (4) type of comparison, (5) number of comparisons, (6) treatment integrity, and (7) outcome. There were some consistencies across studies, with half resulting in equivalent outcomes across comparisons. In addition, most studies employed the use of an alternating treatments or multi‐element single‐subject design and compared a teaching methodology. On the basis of these results, the value of comparison study as well as directions for future comparison research is discussed. Overall, comparison study is a worthy and important enterprise that requires a high degree of experimental control and a careful analyses of the results, regardless of whether the outcome clearly favored one independent variable or not. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

面孔识别的眼动模式研究述评

面孔是一种独特的社会性刺激,面孔识别一直以来都是视觉认知领域的研究热点。近年来,眼动追踪技术在面孔识别的研究中发挥着越来越重要的作用。本文首先综述了面孔识别眼动模式的文化差异,随后分析了面孔种族、面孔熟悉度对面孔识别眼动模式的影响,最后对不同面部表情识别的眼动模式相关研究进行了总结。未来的研究需要进一步探讨面孔识别眼动模式差异的原因和模式差异背后的功能差异,也需要更多关注动态面孔识别的眼动注视模式研究。     

大学生阅读知觉广度影响因素的回归分析

采用移动窗口技术,以101名大学生为被试,探讨了大学生的阅读知觉广度,同时使用多元回归方法考察了各因素对眼动指标的影响,结果表明:(1)大学生知觉广度的右侧范围为2-3个汉字;(2)材料难度、工作记忆和阅读理解对大学生被试的眼动指标有显著的预测作用。     

Noninvasive Brain Stimulation over the M1 Enhances Bimanual Force Control Ability: A Randomized Double-Blind Sham-Controlled Study

Well-coordinated bimanual force control is common in daily life. We investigated the effects of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the primary motor cortex on bimanual force control. Under a cross-over study, young adults (n = 19; female = 6, male = 13) completed three bimanual force control tasks at 5%, 25%, and 50% of bimanual maximum voluntary force (BMVF) before and after real or sham tDCS. Real tDCS enhanced accuracy at all BMVF, reduced variability at 5% BMVF, and increased coordination at 5% BMVF. Real tDCS improved force control at 5% and 25% BMVF, and especially increased bimanual coordination at 5% BMVF. These findings might have implications for establishing interventions for patients with hand force control deficits.     

The coherence of critical event narratives and adolescents' psychological functioning

The present study examined the coherence of low- and high-point life-event narratives among adolescents (aged between 12 and 21 years) and their psychological functioning in terms of well-being and prosocial behaviour. The results showed robust age-related increases in narrative coherence. Age and gender significantly moderated the associations between narrative coherence and psychological functioning. Specifically, higher levels of coherence were significantly associated with prosocial behaviour only for older adolescents. Higher levels of narrative coherence were also associated with lower levels of well-being among adolescent boys, but not among adolescent girls. Results are discussed in terms of why coherent life-event narratives may not be linked to benefits for younger adolescents and for boys, and how low- and high-point life events both contribute to identity construction.     

TKA术后夹闭和开放引流管对出血量和输血量影响的比较研究

前瞻性研究全膝关节置换术（TKA）术后引流管夹闭4小时对患者术后出血量和输血量的影响。将我院2010年2月至2011年2月因骨性关节炎晚期行TKA的患者71例,随机分为两组。一组为夹闭引流管组,另一组为持续开放引流管组。两组均于术后48小时拔出引流管。将两组患者术前及术后1天、2天、3天的血红蛋白（HB）计数、术后引流液量及术后输血量进行比较。结果显示,夹闭引流管组与持续开放组患者相比,两组切口引流量存在差异。因此,与持续开放引流管方法相比,TKA术后采用夹闭引流管4小时的方法可以减少引流量,但不减少术后出血量及输血量。     

Temporal order perception of auditory stimuli is selectively modified by tonal and non-tonal language environments

The close relationship between temporal perception and speech processing is well established. The present study focused on the specific question whether the speech environment could influence temporal order perception in subjects whose language backgrounds are distinctively different, i.e., Chinese (tonal language) vs. Polish (non-tonal language). Temporal order thresholds were measured for both monaurally presented clicks and binaurally presented tone pairs. Whereas the click experiment showed similar order thresholds for the two language groups, the experiment with tone pairs resulted in different observations: while Chinese demonstrated better performance in discriminating the temporal order of two “close frequency” tone pairs (600 Hz and 1200 Hz), Polish subjects showed a reversed pattern, i.e., better performance for “distant frequency” tone pairs (400 Hz and 3000 Hz). These results indicate on the one hand a common temporal mechanism for perceiving the order of two monaurally presented stimuli, and on the other hand neuronal plasticity for perceiving the order of frequency-related auditory stimuli. We conclude that the auditory brain is modified with respect to temporal processing by long-term exposure to a tonal or a non-tonal language. As a consequence of such an exposure different cognitive modes of operation (analytic vs. holistic) are selected: the analytic mode is adopted for “distant frequency” tone pairs in Chinese and for “close frequency” tone pairs in Polish subjects, whereas the holistic mode is selected for “close frequency” tone pairs in Chinese and for “distant frequency” tone pairs in Polish subjects, reflecting a double dissociation of function.     

“人体-环境”新系统医学模式探讨

运用系统论观点分析“生物-心理-社会”医学模式的优越性和局限性,提出以人为主体,将人作为一完整系统,人与环境合为大系统,以整体论的健康观为理念的“人体-环境”新系统医学模式,旨在更好地推动中西医结合和预防医学的发展,加速学科间的相互渗透,唤起健康和环保意识,以及更加重视政治和法律政策对现代医学的作用。     

The impact of dialectical behaviour therapy training on therapists in Singapore: A mixed-methods study

Background

While dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) has much empirical support for treating borderline personality disorder (BPD) and other conditions, little research has examined the dissemination of DBT in Southeast Asia.

Aims

This study evaluated training outcomes following a 5-day intensive DBT training programme in a group of psychologists in Singapore, who were in the process of implementing DBT as part of the training's objectives.

Methodology

A mixed-methods design was employed. Fourteen psychologists from a public psychiatric hospital in Singapore were recruited. Seven self-selected into DBT training, and the remaining were matched controls who were not attending the training programme. The latter served as a nonrandomised control group. Prior to and 3 months after training, all participants completed measures of stigma towards BPD patients, burnout and therapeutic alliance. DBT training participants additionally attended a focus group discussion assessing their experiences and challenges implementing DBT in Singapore's context.

Findings

Quantitative analyses using mixed ANOVA showed that, compared with controls, DBT-trained participants demonstrated significantly greater increases in acceptance towards BPD patients. No between-group differences were found on changes in burnout or therapy alliance with patients. Analyses of qualitative data using thematic analysis revealed that DBT training impacted the way participants conceptualised and delivered therapy for BPD patients, and highlighted several challenges in implementing DBT in the local hospital context.

Conclusion

The findings demonstrate the potential of DBT training in improving clinicians' attitudes towards BPD patients and support a need for policymakers to prepare organisations for DBT implementation to ensure programme sustainability.     

What does it mean to trust blockchain technology?

This paper argues that the widespread belief that interactions between blockchains and their users are trust-free is inaccurate and misleading, since this belief not only overlooks the vital role played by trust in the lack of knowledge and control but also conceals the moral and normative relevance of relying on blockchain applications. The paper reaches this argument by providing a close philosophical examination of the concept referred to as trust in blockchain technology, clarifying the trustor group, the structure, and the normatively loaded nature of this trust relation. The paper ends by critically reflecting on two of the most promising values (decentralization and transparency) that can invite users’ trust in blockchain technology, arguing that there is a tension between the pressing values that are intended to be achieved by developers and the predicament situations caused by current blockchain implementations.