A strategic response to the occupational health establishment

The experiences of occupational health and safety "activists" in Canada reveal the limits of achieving reform in working conditions by technical efforts in combination with rank-and-file activation. The author argues that the way union "activists" approach occupational health and safety limits workers in dealing with their actual experiences and understanding about workplace hazards and risks, then discusses the condition for the awakening of their critical consciousness as a basis of acting on hazardous working conditions. The first movement in the way the worker apprehends the work environment is a movement of negation and is the prior condition to a critical and disclosive discourse about workplace hazards. It is the positive side of "No!" and the taking seriously of workers' rights. It is this negation of the negative that holds out the greatest hope for solidarity and a liberatory community in workplaces, since legislated workers' rights as the basis of protection have become a facade. Workers can respond with the power of saying "No!" in solidarity with suffering workers, and then work through appropriate principles, ends, or strategies avoiding entrapment by a "telos" in the first instance. By laying out these "ends" or a strategic paradigm, one introduces a "conversation stopper" for workers and atrophies their activation.     

A taxonomy of instrumental conditioning.

Proposes a classification scheme for instrumental conditioning paradigms based on 4 dichotomies: (a) whether the organism is required to "emit" or "omit" a response, (b) whether a "desirable" or "aversive" stimulus event is made contingent upon the response, (c) whether the operation performed upon this stimulus event is one which "increases" or "decreases" its magnitude or intensity, and (d) whether or not the organism is given any "signal" prior to the response as to the consequent stimulus event. The resulting classification scheme includes 16 distinct paradigms, each of which is illustrated with research examples (when they are known to exist) and with examples from "real-life" situations. The relationship between the present scheme and previous classification attempts is indicated, and a meaningful and consistent nomenclature is proposed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Patterns of eye movements during parallel and serial visual search tasks.

In 2 experiments with a total of 24 undergraduates, eye movements were monitored while Ss performed parallel and serial search tasks. In Exp 1a, Ss searched for an "O" among "X"s (parallel condition) and for a "T" among "L"s (serial condition). In the parallel condition of Exp 1b, "Q" was the target and "O"s were distractors; in the serial condition, these stimuli switched roles. Displays contained 1, 12, or 24 stimuli, with both target-present and target-absent trials. RT and eye-movement measures (number of fixations, saccadic error, and latency to move) indicated that search efficiency was greatest in the parallel conditions, followed by the serial condition of Exp 1a and, finally, by the serial condition of Exp 1b. This suggests that eye movements are correlated with the attentional processes underlying visual search. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Non-condensed" and "condensed" chromain in transitional cell carcinoma of the human urinary bladder

The area and content of "non-condensed" and "condensed" chromatin in smeared Feulgen-stained malignant urothelial cells were determined by means of scanning-cytophotometry. The results were compared with those from similar measurements of benign human transitional epithelial cells. There was no difference between the relative area and content of "non-condensed" and "condensed" chromatin in cancer nuclei and normal urothelial nuclei as far as nuclei of the same size and ploidy class were considered. Within the same ploidy class the relative area and content of "non-condensed" chromatin increased with increasing nuclear size. As increased nuclear size within the same ploidy class is typical for most cancer cells, cancer specimens therefore contained relatively more "non-condensed" chromatin than normal urothelium. Analogously the relative values of "condensed" chromatin decreased in cancer specimens. Only in high-polyploid cancer cells, which occurred more frequently in undifferentiated tumours, a slight decrease of the relative area and content of "non-condensed" chromatin was observed as compared with well differentiated diploid tumour cells. It was in polyploid tumours that the absolute area and content of "condensed" chromatin was increased as compared with diploid normal urothelium. This means that the changes in "non-condensed" and "condensed" chromatin were primarily dependent on nuclear size and total chromatin content and were not found to be a characteristic of cancer nuclei as compared with control nuclei of the same size and ploidy. These findings differ from the results of biochemical analyses of heterochromatin both in cells during carcinogenesis and also in cancer cells, but are in agreement with qualitative and quantitative morphological studies of smeared cancer nuclei.     

Review of Creativity: Theories and themes: Research, development, and practice.

Reviews the book, Creativity: Theories and themes: Research, development, and practice by Mark A. Runco (see record 2007-00543-000). This book consists of 11 chapters with the following titles: "Cognition and Creativity," "Developmental Trends and Influences on Creativity," "Biological Perspectives on Creativity," "Health and Clinical Perspectives," "Social, Attributional, and Organizational Perspectives," "Educational Perspectives," "History and Historiometry," "Culture and Creativity," "Personality and Motivation," "Enhancement and the Fulfillment of Potential," and "Conclusion: What Creativity Is and What It Is Not." Beyond this all-encompassing content, the volume is crammed with illustrations and with all those "boxes" that are so characteristic of introductory textbooks in psychology. Each chapter also begins with appropriate quotations and a didactic "Advanced Organizer." Finally, Runco closes with 63 pages of references and a 15-page subject index. The reviewer has one major complaint: Runco seems to have adopted an "open the floodgates" approach that sometimes results in the almost willy nilly insertion of ideas and material. One consequence of this tendency is that the illustrations and boxes are at times less useful than they ought to be. Another repercussion of Runco's leave-nothing-out approach is that it occasionally leads to the presentation of ideas with minimal if any discussion or commentary. The reviewer does assert though, that for someone in the market for a text for use in an introductory creativity course, a book that is wide-ranging and most current, Runco's Creativity is a good choice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of internal instructor frames of references in the student rating process.

Explored the cognitive judgment process underlying the rating of a teacher's behavior. Ratings were hypothesized to involve a comparative judgment process where elements in the teacher's actual behavior are compared to elements within a student's internal instructor frame of reference (e.g., ideal, best, average, and worst teacher). In Exp I 162 undergraduates rated the instructor and selected the frame of reference they used for each questionnaire item. The reference points most often used were the "average," "best," and "ideal" teacher and the least often used were the "worst teacher" and "no particular reference point." 140 undergraduates in Exp II were assigned to either 1 of 4 reference point groups or to a control group and rated both the reference point and the actual behavior. The magnitude of reference point ratings was in descending order from "ideal," "best," "average," to "worst" teacher. Reference point and actual rating differences and their interaction with teacher behavior factors were statistically significant. In Exp III 75 undergraduates rated both a "best" and "worst" teacher reference point and the teacher's actual behavior. Data confirmed the prediction that the reference point with the largest number of elements in common with the teacher's actual behavior would correlate best with the actual behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Natural history of menopause

Etymologically meaning "cessation of menstruation", the menopause is in fact a phenomenon which occurs over several years and can be divided into two phases: a period of "pre"-menopause, approximately from the age of 40 to 50, during which ovulation becomes increasingly less frequent, leads to decreased fertility and progesterone deficiency (luteal insufficiency), whereas the confirmed "menopause", which occurs between the age of 50 and 55, is the disappearance of all follicles, leading to estrogen deprivation. The risk associated with the "pre"-menopause is an "unopposed estrogen effect", with its cellular effects on target-tissues. The problem of confirmed menopause is decreased tissue trophicity, not only of the genital area, but of the body in general (skin, bone, blood vessels, etc.) as a consequence of estrogen deprivation. Replacement therapy is the logical treatment: progestins during the "pre"-menopause, estrogens in combination with progestins once "menopause" is confirmed.     

Reliability of copper reduction methods for quantitation of glucosuria

In the present study we evaluated the reliability of the "2-drop" Clinitest method in determining the 24-h glucose spill of a diabetic patient. The urine glucose content over the 33 day study period was measured with a Beckman glucose analyzer that employed a glucose oxidase method. There was no statistical difference between the glucose content determined by the two methods. There was a mean error of +4.4 +/- 3.6% between the values obtained with the "2-drop" method and values obtained with glucose analyzer. The mean coefficient of variation for determining the glucose content of urine with the "2 drop" method was 19%. In a group of 10 normal volunteers we found that there was a falsely elevated glucose value in urines with osmolality of less than 295 mosm/kg when the "5-drop" method was used. The "2-drop" Clinitest and the Beckman analyzer could accurately determine glucose concentration even in these dilute urines. The "2-drop" Clinitest method is a useful and reasonably reliable method for evaluationg 24-h glucosuria.     

Parameters of normalcy in transient otoacoustic emissions

This study analyzed and assessed dimensions of a questionnaire developed to measure general fears and phobias. A previous factor analysis among 109 dental phobics had revealed a five-factor structure with 22 items and an explained total variance of 54%. The present study analyzed the same material using a multivariate statistical procedure (LISREL) to reveal structural latent variables. The LISREL analysis, based on the correlation matrix, yielded a chi-square of 216.6 with 195 degrees of freedom (P = 0.138) and showed a model with seven latent variables. One was a general fear factor correlated to all 22 items. The other six factors concerned "Illness & Death" (5 items), "Failures & Embarrassment" (5 items), "Social situations" (5 items), "Physical injuries" (4 items), "Animals & Natural phenomena" (4 items). One item (opposite sex) was included in both "Failures & Embarrassment" and "Social situations". The last factor, "Social interaction", combined all the items in "Failures & Embarrassment" and "Social situations" (9 items). In conclusion, this multivariate statistical analysis (LISREL) revealed and confirmed a factor structure similar to our previous study, but added two important dimensions not shown with a traditional factor analysis. This reduced FSS-II version measures general fears and phobias and may be used on a routine clinical basis as well as in dental phobia research.     

Determination of the minimal clinically significant difference on a patient visual analog satisfaction scale

OBJECTIVE: To determine the minimal clinically significant difference (MCSD) on a visual analog patient satisfaction scale. METHODS: The authors prospectively collected patient satisfaction evaluations during a clinical trial assessing the effect of introducing personal television sets on overall patient satisfaction from their ED encounters. Patient satisfaction was assessed with 2 scales: a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS) (0 = least satisfied, 100 = most satisfied) and a 7-point categorical scale ("terrible," "mostly dissatisfied," "mixed," "partially satisfied," "mostly satisfied," "pleased," and "delighted"). The differences between the mean VAS scores of "delighted" and "pleased" patients, and between "pleased" and "mostly satisfied" patients were used to determine the MCSD on the VAS. Reliability of each of the scales was determined. RESULTS: 181 patients were evaluated. Mean age was 41 years; 59% were female. On a subset of 19 patients, the VAS yielded an interobserver correlation of 0.93. The kappa measurement of agreement on the categorical scale was 0.77. The mean difference between "delighted" and "pleased" patient VAS satisfaction scores was 6.8 mm (95% CI, 1.3-12.3 mm). The mean difference between "pleased" and "mostly satisfied" patient VAS satisfaction scores was 10.7 mm (95% CI, 5.5-15.8 mm). CONCLUSION: The MCSD in patient satisfaction scores measured with a 100-mm VAS was approximately 7-11 mm. Future studies evaluating differences in patient satisfaction should be designed to detect this difference.     

Influence of milk-fat substitute feeding on the metabolism in calves

Investigations were made to study the effect of milk fat substitutes ("Laktin", "TZS-60") on the metabolism of 3 and 5-weeks-old calves. "Laktin" is prepared from lard and hydrogenated soya and fish oil; additionally, it contains lecithin, monoglycerides, antioxidants, vitamins and antibiotics. "TSZ-60" is a preparation containing starch and colloidal silicic acid as carrier material mixed with 60% of coarsely powdered fat (particle sizes ranging from 50 to 200 mum), which in turn, is supplemented with vitamins and antibiotics. The kinds of "Laktin" used in the present trial contained 95%, 58%-98% or 90% of fat while "TSZ-60" contained 59.4%. Both the 3-weeks-old and the 5-weeks-old calves digested the "Laktin" fat more efficiently than the kind of fat contained in "TSZ-60" ("Laktin": 94.3% to 97.3% of fat; "TSZ-60" 71.8% to 90.5%). As a consequence of this, the "Laktin"-fed calves exhibited a higher rate of nitrogen utilization and nitrogen retention. According to the results obtained in the present trial "Laktin" should be given in daily doses of 219 g (an amount corresponding to 7 litres of milk with a milk fat content of 3.13%) while "TSZ-60" should be fed in daily amounts of 245 g (corresponding to 7 litres of milk with a milk fat content of 2.1%). Higher doses ("Laktin": 323 g/day: "TSZ-60" 335 g/day) would have a detrimental effect on the metabolism of the calves. Apart from this, it was not found that higher doses would help to reduce the protein consumption of the animals.     

On writing "little papers."

Journal policies have encouraged the writing of "little papers" and have discouraged longer papers and monographs. "Little paper" refers "to the four- or five-page article dealing with one or two aspects of a larger problem." "Many psychologists are troubled by the proliferation of articles and journals dealing with psychological topics." The "little papers" are likely to be of small consequence and it is unlikely that "a productive science will eventually emerge from the host of trivial and unrelated studies that fill the journals." "Little papers" should be discouraged; editors should induce some authors to forego "one-shot" papers in favor of a series of integrated and planned researches. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sintering of Si3N4 Ceramics with Additives Containing Yttrium and Ytterbium Oxides with Microwave and Traditional Heating

Compaction processes, phase transformation, and porous structure evolution are compared for materials based on silicon nitride containing yttrium and ytterbium oxides under microwave and traditional heating conditions. Experiments by microwave heating are performed in a special gyrotron device operating at a frequency of 30 GHz in a nitrogen atmosphere at normal pressure with a constant heating rate of 30, 60, and 90 deg/min. Traditional sintering is carried out in a tubular continuous furnace with a tungsten muffle in a nitrogen atmosphere at normal pressure with a heating rate of 60 deg/min. It is established that under microwave heating conditions compaction of the test materials and the start of the phase transformation occur at temperatures 100-150 deg lower than those typical for traditional heating. In material with a reduced amount of oxide additives compaction is accompanied by an increase in the proportion of large pores which is the reason for a slow-down in compaction both with traditional heating and with microwave one. It is suggested that the reason for acceleration of mass transfer with microwave heating is the specific nature of the interaction of the microwave field with the liquid phase formed, promoting development of non-diffusion transfer of solid-phase elements dissolved within it and the mechanical effect on its particles.     

The organization of automated information systems on occupational diseases and of the hygienic monitoring of working conditions

Creation of automated database "Archive of occupational diseases clinic" is an important task of informational support for occupational pathology centers. Constructing the database, the authors designed an "Accounting chart of patient with occupational disease for diagnostic survey in occupational pathology center" and a "Diagnosis of occupational disease" code book adjusted to X ICD with instruction. Analysis of the information obtained forms a basis for forecasting the course of pathologic process, for justifying a complex of treatment and prophylaxis.     

An experimental test of the effects of "developmental" vs. "free" discussions on the quality of group decisions.

A "developmental" and a "free" type of discussion leadership were compared with respect to the degree to which they influence the quality and unanimity of group decisions. Small groups of students were asked to make a decision involving the wisdom of promoting a particular employee to a new job. The "high quality" decision was reached about twice as frequently in the "developmental" discussion groups as in the "free" discussion groups, but no significant difference was obtained with respect to group unanimity. The writers believe that these "findings apply only to problems in which emotional involvement is not an important aspect of the problem… with other types of problems the 'free' type of discussion may be more effective… ." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interfacial characteristics of resin-modified glass-ionomer materials: a study on fluid permeability using confocal fluorescence microscopy

The tooth interface with resin-modified glass-ionomer cements (RM GICs) is poorly understood. This study examined the interface, especially with dentin. Cervical cavities in extracted teeth were restored with Fuji II LC, Vitremer, Photac-Fil, or a conventional GIC, Fuji Cap II. Fluorescent dye was placed in the pulp chambers for 3 hrs before the specimens were sectioned. Examination of the tooth/material interface with a confocal microscope showed that dye uptake by the restoration varied among materials. A "structureless", non-particulate, highly-stained layer of GIC was observed next to dentin in Fuji II LC. This layer varied in width, was prominent where the dentin tubules were cut "end-on" and in areas closer to the pulp, and was not seen adjacent to enamel. Vitremer showed minimal dye uptake, and the "structureless" layer was barely discernible. Photac-Fil showed more uniform uptake and absence of this layer. Cracking of enamel was also noted with these materials. The conventional GIC did not show any dye uptake, presence of a "structureless" layer, or enamel cracking. We elucidated the potential mechanisms involved in the formation of a "structureless" interfacial layer in Fuji II LC by studying the variables of cavity design, surface pre-treatment, water content of the tooth, time for it to develop, early finishing, and coating of the restoration. This layer, the "absorption layer", is probably related to water flux within the maturing cement, depending on environmental moisture changes and communication with the pulp in a wet tooth. The "micropermeability model" was useful in this study of the interfacial characteristics of RM GICs.     

Bile acids and lipids in isolated rat hepatocytes: content, synthesis, and release, as affected by cholestyramine treatment of the donor rats

Contents of bile acids and lipids, as well as rates of triglyceride synthesis, were determined in isolated hepatocytes from control or cholestyramine-fed rats (denoted below as "control" or "treated" hepatocytes, respectively). During a 3-hr incubation period, total bile acid production was markedly higher in "treated" cells than in "control" cells. With both kinds of cells a marked fall in production rate occurred after the first hour of incubation. Newly produced bile acids appeared in the conjugated form with both kinds of hepatocytes. "Control" cells produced only taurine-conjugated, while "treated" cells made both taurine-conjugated and glycine-conjugated bile acids. However, with exogenous taurine (0.5 mM), the latter cells also produced taurine-conjugated bile acids only. With both kinds of cells, cholic and beta-muricholic acids, but not dihydroxylated bile acids, appeared as newly formed species during the incubation. Addition of dialyzed rat serum to the incubation did not result in a stimulation of bile acid production, with either kind of hepatocytes. "Treated" cells had a slightly higher content of free cholesterol than control cells; contents of other lipids were not different. Fractional release of bile acids and lipids into the medium did not differ between the two kinds of cells. Triglyceride synthesis from added [14C]palmitate (0.5 mM) was 1.8-fold higher in "treated" than in "control" hepatocytes.     

Electric-spark alloying of steel with tungsten-free hard metals

Conclusions A study was made of the ESA of steel with tungsten and tungsten-free TN type hard metals in different units and under different conditions, with and without anode dressing. It has been established that in alloying under finishing conditions the erosion of a dressed TN-20 alloy anode is greater than that of an undressed one; this is due to the formation of stable oxide films on the electrode surfaces. In contrast to this, in treatment under rough conditions the erosion of an undressed anode is greater because the oxide films cannot withstand the higher thermal stress generated during alloying. In ESA with tungsten alloys maximum erosion under both finishing and rough conditions is observed with undressed specimens. This is attributable to the formation of a defective zone promoting periodic brittle disintegration in the course of treatment. Removing the defective zone decreases the erosion of the material. The most favorable conditions for the formation of a reinforced layer are created in the alloying of a dressed cathode surface, and consequently it is best to perform ESA with a specific time of not more than 1 min/cm². Use of treatment conditions with large thermal loads increases the thickness and hardness of the reinforced layer. Reinforcement with TK type alloys sets up a stress which is greater on the specimen surface and extends to a greater depth than the stress generated in alloying with TN type hard metals. Electrodes made of the tungsten-free TN-20 hard metal can be used instead of tungsten alloy electrodes for the ESA of processes V and VI. The resultant reinforced layer is sufficiently thick and continuous.Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, No. 11(239), pp. 64–69, November, 1982.     

韩愈教育思想初探

韩愈认为教育的目的是"学为道",并提出"上教、中导、下制"的教育思想;认为教师的作用是"传道、受业、解惑",提出把"道"与"业"作为衡量教师的标准,进而提出"弟子不必不如师、师不必贤于弟子"的师生观念;在教学与治学思想方面,认为学业的精进在于"勤"与"思",应在博的基础上求精,把学习与独创结合起来.     

Reflections on the "unknown" in psychotherapy.

Suggests that "darkness" (in contrast to and in alternation with "light") is useful as a metaphor for representing ever-recurring periods in dynamic psychotherapy during which the therapist does not and cannot know what is occurring in the work with his/her patient. Such unfathomable "dark" periods are a fertile matrix from which central meanings in a patient's life will emerge, provided the therapist does not interfere with their unfolding. However, these "dark" periods are anxiety provoking for the therapist and often result in anxiety-instigated, growth-deflecting efforts at prediction and control. Clinical vignettes are presented to illustrate the inevitable rhythm of alternation in therapy between "darkness" and "light," the imponderability of various key therapeutic events, and the therapist's struggles with these issues. (1 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)