Some comments on "A behavioral approach to nitrogen narcosis."

In a previous article, R. D. Jennings (see record 1968-08598-001) argued that almost no attention has been paid to the behavioral aspects of nitrogen narcosis, and that the problem has been approached only from the physiological and medical viewpoint. The present paper reviews a number of behavioral studies of nitrogen narcosis not covered by Jennings and notes certain inaccuracies in his paper. It is concluded that considerable attention has been paid to the behavioral aspects of nitrogen narcosis involving skilled performance, but that there is now a need to apply new analytic approaches to this problem. (31 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Some considerations of strength and ductility in the continuous-casting process

From the time the solidifying skin begins to form in the mold until well after solidification is complete, a continuously cast section is subjected to a complex history of thermal and mechanical stresses. Also, in most casting machines gross bending deformations are imparted to the cast strand, either to introduce or eliminate a curvature. The ability of the solidified material to withstand these stresses and strains is essential in permitting the casting operation to proceed, as well as in avoiding surface and internal tears that can lead to poor product quality or necessitate excessive conditioning. In this paper the nature of the stresses and strains that the cast section must withstand are discussed. Results of experimental studies of the strength and ductility of low-carbon steels in the range of temperatures and strain rates of concern in continuous casting are presented. Compositional effects in both simple tension tests and in bend tests are discussed, with special reference to the reduction in ductility observed in the temperature range of about 1500° to 2200°F following certain prior thermal histories. The implications of these results in the design and operation of continuous-casting machines are also discussed.     

Pharmacotherapy in the elderly--pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations]

OBJECTIVE: N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamic acid (NAAGA) was effective in the treatment of allergic rhinitis, with an action on early allergen-induced nasal symptoms and mediator release. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical activity of NAAGA and its effects on the late antigen-induced reaction in the nose. METHODS: Ten patients with allergic seasonal rhinitis were included in this randomized double-blind crossover trial of a 6% wt/vol solution of NAAGA (daily dosage 84 mg) versus placebo (lactose). The drug and placebo were administered intranasally five times daily for 1 week, with a 2-week interval between treatments. RESULTS: Treatment with NAAGA, but not with placebo, significantly reduced the late antigen-induced nasal symptoms, mainly nasal obstruction. Eosinophil numbers in the nasal lavages collected 6 h and 24 h after challenge were significantly lower after NAAGA than after placebo. Active treatment also significantly reduced the neutrophil count 6 h after antigen challenge, and significantly lowered eosinophil cationic protein and myeloperoxidase levels in nasal lavages 6 h and 24 h after antigen challenge. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that treatment for 1 week with NAAGA can reduce the late antigen-induced reaction in the nose. This is accompanied by a reduction in eosinophil and neutrophil recruitment and release of eosinophil cationic protein and myeloperoxidase.     

Some research considerations on intergenerational continuities and discontinuities: comment on the special section

Research into intergenerational continuities should pay attention to 9 key considerations: both sides of the family are involved, secular change will affect continuities, discontinuities outweight continuities, societal as well as family influences may be involved, variations in the meaning of traits must be considered, small differences may be misleading, risks may derive from either person characteristics or experiences, identification of mediating mechanisms is a priority, and such mechanisms may include genetic factors.     

Neuropsychobiology of affective disorders. Some methodological considerations

Amine hypothesis is neither an adequate nor a sufficient postulate in understanding the neuropsychobiology of affective disorders. Interactions and balance between various mechanisms and factors may be important. Better techniques and methodology need to be used and a more comprehensive approach seems to be necessary in formulating meaningful research strategies. The present paper reexamines someaspects of the available data and suggests a few approaches in the sutdy and elucidation of neruophychobiology of affective disorders.     

Some considerations on the reliability and validity of the Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire for Adolescents.

Reviews the material presented in the S. A. Brown et al (see record 1988-28300-001) report on the reliability and validity of the Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire for Adolescents (AEQ-A). Data are presented that suggest that the reliability and validity of the AEQ-A remain to be fully established. A preliminary outline of a potential theoretical direction is provided that applies Rotter's Social Learning Theory (J. B. Rotter, 1954 and 1982) as a framework for future work with alcohol-related expectancies and other cognitive-behavioral research on alcohol. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Linguistic considerations in the treatment of bilinguals.

Language is intimately connected with most aspects of human development. Because of this pervasive quality, language is incorporated as part of the individual's coping mechanisms, and at times it may even serve a definite defensive role. This investigation examines research and clinical data regarding the language independence phenomenon as it relates to the treatment of bilingual patients. Attempts are made to describe the way the bilingual individuals mobilize (shift) their languages under anxiety-producing conditions and how this shifting of languages can be utilized by these individuals as part of their coping mechanisms. There can be both positive and negative implications for treatment. In this regard, the article illustrates how the linguistic shifting may further reinforce defenses such as intellectualization, splitting, and isolation of affect. Linguistic shifting can also be technically introduced by monolingual clinicians to advance the therapeutic process. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Practical considerations in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents one of the most common neoplasms worldwide. To date, curative treatment options include liver transplantation or resection. Unfortunately, most patients are detected with nonresectable or -transplantable HCC due to disease extension or comorbid factors, and are therefore candidates only for palliative treatments. Palliative medical treatments, including systemic chemotherapy, immunotherapy or hormonal manipulation, have a borderline activity on HCC and cannot be recommended outside clinical trials. A high response rate has been reported with local therapies such as transcatheter arterial embolisation, intra-arterial chemotherapy or percutaneous alcohol (ethanol) injection, but as there is no clear evidence of a survival advantage for these treatment modalities, further investigations are required. Multidisciplinary treatment, including preoperative cytoreduction or postoperative adjuvant therapy, is currently under investigation, with encouraging survival results. HCC patients should be evaluated within clinical trials, possibly randomised and with homogeneous prognostic factors, in order that we may find the answer to all these important questions.     

Biomechanics of the foot in diabetes mellitus. Some theoretical considerations

Although diabetes mellitus is a biochemical disease, it has biomechanical consequences for the lower extremity. Numerous alterations occur in the function of the foot and lower extremity in people with diabetes. This article evaluates biomechanical alterations of the foot in the presence of neuropathy in patients with diabetes in the context of several theoretical concepts. Further study of these hypotheses will result in a better understanding of how diabetes causes elevated plantar pressures and the potential of strategies to prevent these changes so that the burden of diabetic foot disease can be reduced.     

Temporal measures of vocalization: Some methodological considerations.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 48(2) of Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (see record 2008-10973-001). The copyright notice was inadvertently omitted. The notice that should have appeared on the first page of this article is provided in the erratum.] Five studies—with 164 university students, 56 military personnel, and 4 elderly persons—examined methodological issues associated with temporal measures of vocalization. The simple measures of phonation, silence, and interrupt and measures of silence relative to phonation were found to be sensitive to task and emotional factors and were stable across experience. A procedure for analyzing interviews is presented, and potential applications of the temporal measures are discussed. (46 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Correlates of employee lateness: Some theoretical considerations.

Using hypothesis-driven meta-analytic procedures on 30 samples containing 118 correlations, researchers examined competing models of the relationship between lateness and assorted work-related variables. Consistent with a progression withdrawal model, the mean corrected lateness-absence correlation, .40, was found to be higher than the lateness-turnover correlation, .27. Hypotheses regarding the relationships between lateness and attitudes, performance, and demographics were generally supported. Methodological issues, including the need for longitudinal designs in the field and the inclusion of other moderators such as organizational and personality variables, were discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Getting the mail questionnaire returned: Some practical research considerations.

Tested the effectiveness of 3 methods most often used for returned mail questionnaires, in terms of the rate of return and respondent bias in each method. 100 managers received a questionnaire which was to be returned by either a stamped envelope, a business reply envelope, or their firm's interplant mail system. The interplant mail system provided the greatest return rate, at lowest cost, without respondent bias. The business reply envelope produced a very poor response rate. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Some methodological considerations for the behavioral genetic analysis of work attitudes.

In a recent article, R. D. Arvey et al (see record 1989-25020-001) argued that about 30% of the variance in job satisfaction was accounted for by workers' genetic make-ups. To demonstrate this, they examined a group of monozygotic twins who had been reared apart. Although this method has been used widely in behavioral genetic research, it contains many hidden threats to validity, which could render suspect numerical estimates of either environmental or genetic effects. We examine some of the threats associated with this type of twin research, emphasizing the problems involved in quantifying the heritability of job satisfaction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of size of food on food consumption: Some neurophysiological considerations.

Reports results of 3 experiments with 42 B6D2F1/J mice and 3 groups of 2 CAF1/J, C3D2F1/J, and LAF1/J mice. Ss that normally ate about 3.4 g of food in a 24-hr period increased food consumption 20% when offered their food in the form of 2 7.5-g pellets. This effect disappeared when Ss were offered 2 5.0-g pellets instead, or random-sized pellets. This finding indicates that the presence of large food pellets potentiates food intake in normal mice. Blinding disrupted this food-size-food-intake phenomenon. Lateral hypothalamic lesions disrupted the overeating under large pellet conditions, while both ventromedial hypothalamic and septal lesions affected eating of small pellets. Septal lesions increased consumption of small pellets, while ventromedial hypothalamic lesions reduced the intake of small pellets. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Methodological considerations in treatment outcome research on obesity.

Identifies methodological problems in treatment research on obesity. The importance of multiple measurement of outcome, including appropriate assessment of weight, activity, and relevant physical, emotional, and social indices of adjustment, is emphasized. Traditional evaluation criteria need to be broadened to encompass factors such as cost effectiveness of treatment. The relative merits of alternative single-S and between-groups experimental designs are discussed, the latter including the treatment package, constructive, dismantling, and comparative research strategies. Ways of controlling for non-specific treatment influences are reviewed, and the contribution of client and therapist variables to outcome are mentioned. The reasons for conspicuous lack of long-term follow-ups are analyzed, and recommendations for reducing S attrition during treatment and follow-up are advanced. (80 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Some observations on the microneurosurgical treatment of intracranial aneurysms

This paper reports a retrospective study of the microneurosurgical management of intracranial aneurysm in 133 patients. Good or fair results were obtained in 76%, 12% of patients had a poor result and the mortality was 12%. Major factors which were found to influence the outcome of surgery were: pre-operatively, the Botterell grade of the patient, pre-existing systemic hypertension and the time interval between the last subarachnoid haemorrhage and surgery. Post-operatively, the development of cerebral vasospasm was associated with a poor outcome from surgery. Better results might be obtained from the surgery of intracranial aneurysm by delaying operation to the second week after subarachnoid haemorrhage and by better management of hypertensive patients pre-operatively and patients who develop cerebral vasospasm post-operatively.