Reducing elevator energy use: A comparison of posted feedback and reduced elevator convenience

The effects of two different procedures for reducing elevator energy use were assessed using a multiple-baseline design. In the first procedure, feedback about the amount of energy consumed by the elevators each week was posted on each elevator door. Later, signs advocating the use of stairs to save energy and improve health were posted next to the feedback signs. In the second procedure, the time required to travel between floors was increased by adding a delay to the elevator door closing mechanisms. Results indicated that neither feedback alone nor feedback plus educational signs reduced the amount of energy consumed by the elevators. However, use of the door delay reduced consumption by one-third in all elevators.A second experiment replicated the effect of the door delay on energy consumption and, in addition, demonstrated that the door delay also produced a reduction in the number of persons using the elevator. The second experiment also showed that, following an initial period during which a full delay was in effect, a gradual reduction of the delay interval resulted in continued energy conservation. Reduced convenience as a general strategy for energy conservation is discussed.     

分心对记忆影响的年龄差异研究

本文研究了分心对老年人和青年人的记忆影响的年龄差异。分心条件是在判断简单算术题正误的同时,识记指向记忆和故事。结果:1.在上述分心条件下,老年组记忆作业受损比青年人更为严重;分心扩大了记忆的年龄差异。2.相对分心消耗值显然受刺激条件的影响,属片断记忆的故事分节分,分心消耗最大,类似语义记忆的故事意义分,分心消耗最小,介乎两者之间的指向记忆分,分心消耗居中。3.分心对上述记忆的影响有适应现象,两组的第二次分心测试成绩均较第一次进步。     

An experimental analysis of the cost of food in a closed economy.

Rats lived in individual chambers in which the only food available was delivered for lever pressing. During Stage I, a fixed number of presses was required for each food pellet. As this fixed ratio of presses per food pellet was increased daily, a rat's daily intake of food was reduced. During Stage II, the cost of a food pellet was increased by replacing each fixed ratio with its interval equivalent. Each interval was a rat's mean time between the first press of a ratio and the delivery of a pellet during Stage I. During Stage II, only two presses were every required for a food pellet: The first press initiated a delay and the second activated the pellet dispenser after that delay elapsed. Food intakes for the series of fixed ratios and a rat's series of delay equivalents were very similar when plotted as a function of delay, but not when plotted as a function of presses per pellet. Consequently, the fixed ratio reduced food intake because larger ratios increased delay to food from the first press of a ratio. Observations and an analysis of interresponse times further revealed that as the fixed ratio increased, and local as well as overall rate of food intake decreased, lever pressing became more stereotyped. Because this increased stereotypy resulted in greatly increased rates of lever pressing, delay to food was minimized, and perhaps more importantly, so too was the reduction of a rat's baseline daily intake.     

Behavioral economics of drug self-administration and drug abuse policy.

The concepts of behavioral economics have proven useful for understanding the environmental control of overall levels of responding for a variety of commodities, including reinforcement by drug self-administration. These general concepts are summarized for application to the analysis of drug-reinforced behavior and proposed as the basis for future applications. This behavioral agenda includes the assessment of abuse liability, the assay of drug-reinforcer interactions, the design of drug abuse interventions, and the formulation of drug abuse public policy. These separate domains of investigation are described as part of an overall strategy for designing model projects to control drug use and testing public policy initiatives.     

Effects of response cost on the behavior of a million persons: charging for directory assistance in Cincinnati

An interrupted time-series analysis of local directory-assistance calls in the Cincinnati area from 1962 to 1976 revealed a significant reduction in the daily frequency of calls after charges were introduced in 1974. No reductions occurred in the daily frequency of long-distance directory-assistance calls, which remained free. The results attest to the efficacy of response-cost procedures with large subject populations in the natural environment. The applicability of response-cost procedures to social and business problems is discussed.     

Mental health treatment and medical utilization: First pilot study in the military

Savings in medical utilization, as a function of psychotherapeutic intervention, which has been widely demonstrated elsewhere, can be replicated in military medical settings. Results point not only to decreased medical utilization following mental health intervention, but also to more appropriate treatment.The material herein should in no way be construed as reflecting the views or opinions of the Department of Defense or the United States Air Force.     

Phonological representations in deaf children: the importance of early linguistic experience

It is argued that the development of phonological representations in deaf children does not necessarily depend on auditory speech experience, neither at the perception nor at the production level. Instead, this development depends upon early experience of an input in which all phonological contrasts are well specified, independently of input modality. This is argued on the basis of the studies investigating phonological and morpho-phonological abilities of profoundly deaf children early exposed to Cued Speech. The paper is concluded with some speculations about the effect of early exposure to CS on the development of language specific processes housed in the left-hemisphere.     

通道呈现方式与感知学习风格的匹配性对粤-普双言切换代价的影响

选取不同感知学习风格的熟练粤-普双言者被试, 比较在不同通道呈现方式下他们刺激命名任务的表现, 由此考察感知学习风格与通道呈现方式的匹配性对熟练双言者双言切换代价的影响。结果发现, 被试在视觉线索呈现条件下要比在听觉线索条件下的切换代价小; 当感知学习风格与通道呈现方式匹配时, 双言切换代价更低。表明感知学习风格与通道呈现方式的匹配性对于双言切换代价有调节作用。     

Inclined Weight-Loaded Walking at Different Speeds: Pelvis-Shoulder Coordination,Trunk Movements and Cost of Transport

Although studied at level surface, the trunk kinematics and pelvis-shoulder coordination of incline walking are unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the speed effects on pelvis-shoulder coordination and trunk movement and the cost of transport (C) during unloaded and loaded (25% of body mass) 15% incline walking. We collected 3-dimensional kinematic and oxygen consumption data from 10 physically active young men. The movements were analyzed in the sagittal plane (inclination and range of trunk motion) and the transverse plane (range of shoulder and pelvic girdle motion and phase difference). The rotational amplitude of the shoulder girdle decreased with load at all speeds, and it was lower at the highest speeds. The rotational amplitude of the pelvic girdle did not change with the different speeds. The phase difference was greater at optimal speed (3 km.hr^?1, at the lowest C) in the loaded and the unloaded conditions. The trunk inclination was greater with load and increased with speed, whereas the range of trunk motion was lower in the loaded condition and decreased with increasing speed. In conclusion, the load decreased the range of girdles and trunk motion, and the pelvis-shoulder coordination seemed to be critical for the incline walking performance.     

Primary prevention of psychological difficulties in vulnerable mothers: pilot programme evaluation

This pilot study evaluated a primary prevention programme delivered to mothers who were considered to be vulnerable to the development of psychological difficulties (N = 11). Beneficial effects were noted in terms of mood and coping, as well as a reduction in the mothers' attendance at their general practitioners surgery. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.