Personality as the basis for theoretical predilections.

Four groups of behavioral scientists with divergent theoretical persuasions—43 sociobiologists, 25 behaviorists, 35 personality psychologists, and 16 human developmentalists—showed significantly different mean scores on two measures of philosophical assumptions: the World Hypothesis Scale (WHS) and the Organicism–Mechanism Paradigm Inventory (OMPI). The OMPI, which appears to be more psychometrically sound than the WHS, showed in 12 additional groups of subjects (N?=?622) consistent correlations with self-report and peer ratings of personality, intellectual and interpersonal style, and occupational interests. Taken together, the two studies suggest that behavioral scientists' philosophical presuppositions (e.g., whether reality is better described by stable, isolated elements or changing holistic patterns; and whether persons are passive and reactive or purposive and active) may mirror their view of themselves. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Vocal load as measured by the voice accumulator

Voice disorders related to occupation and work environment are often observed in ENT consultations. Advising these patients requires not only the investigation of their vocal capacities but also knowledge about their vocal load. The patient will name extreme demands as the reason for vocal problems whereas the employer will want to know if the patient is capable of doing the work required of him. For an objective measurement of vocal load, a voice accumulator has been developed. This portable instrument records total speaking time and sound level over a period of several hours. The data can be transferred to a personal computer which analyses voiced time (s) between 60 and 112 dB(A)s. Thus, more precise and objective documentation of vocal demands in some professions can finally be obtained. With these results, it is possible to monitor vocal ability or disability during vocal rehabilitation.     

The nursing concept as a basis for the practice of care

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relation between the initial neonatal nucleated erythrocyte (nRBC) count and acute infection or ischemia in cases delivered before 32 weeks' gestation. METHODS: A set of 465 nonanomalous singleton live births delivered at 22-32 weeks' gestational age (GA) contained 386 cases with a complete blood count obtained by 3 hours of life, including 173 cases of premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) before labor, 143 cases of preterm labor with intact membranes (PTL), and 70 cases of preeclampsia. Maternal and neonatal charts were reviewed. Placental histopathology was scored in the following five categories: acute intrauterine inflammation, uteroplacental vascular lesions, intraplacental vaso-occlusive lesions, chronic inflammation, and coagulation-related lesions. The initial nRBC count (nRBCs/100 white blood cells [WBC] x WBC count/dL) was analyzed. RESULTS: In PROM and PTL (controlling for GA), the nRBC count was directly related to the maternal WBC count (PTLP = .018), maternal temperature within 24 hours of delivery (PROM P = .014), initial neonatal WBC count (PROM P < .0001; PTL P = .0004), total myeloid elements (PROM P = .005, PTL P = .009), total nonmyeloid elements (PROM P < .0004, PTL P < .0001), and total placental acute inflammatory score (PROM P = .04, PTL P = .02). In preeclampsia, cytotrophoblast proliferation (P = .02), villous edema (P = .008), "hemorrhagic endovasculitis" (P = .04), and histologic abruption (P = .0006) were directly related to the nRBC count. In well-grown, nonacidotic, nondepressed preterm infants, the nRBC count was independent of gestational age, with the 90th percentile at 5229 nRBC/dL. CONCLUSION: When preterm PROM and PTL are accompanied by acute ascending infection, nRBC release may be a fetal response to the inflamed environment. In preterm preeclampsia, nRBC elevation marks uteroplacental hypoperfusion.     

The efficacy of psychotherapy as the basis for public policy.

Discusses the tremendous growth that has occurred in the number of mental health providers, the rate of use of mental health services, and public and private reimbursement for mental health care. Governmental policymakers and leading insurance officials continue to seek information regarding the appropriateness and efficacy of specific psychotherapeutic techniques with various types of presenting problems. The efforts during the Carter administration to stimulate additional efficacy research and knowledge synthesis regarding the efficacy of psychotherapy are described. A public policy proposal is forwarded that no form of health intervention—physical or mental—should be supported through 3rd-party reimbursement and publicly supported training programs unless it has been demonstrated to be safe and effective. It is argued that randomized controlled clinical trials should be viewed as the most valid, though not exclusive, source of evidence. (10 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The observer-relative velocity field as the basis for effective motion parallax.

Earlier studies of motion parallax found unambiguous relative depth perception when random dot patterns were systematically translated in accordance with either motion of the observer's head or motion of the display scope. The need for such relative motion between an observer and a flow field was examined by placing a flow field in a limited area (window) in a large scope and translating the window relative to the observer. Accuracy in judging surface orientation and quantitative depth estimates were determined by the velocity field relative to the observer and were not measurably affected by whether this field was produced with a stationary or a moving window. Accuracy was consistently higher for smaller ratios of maximum to minimum projected velocities, reaching 100% in one experiment with a 1.12:1 ratio. We conclude that fully effective motion parallax does not require relative motion between the observer's head and the contours of a flow field. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Intercellular interactions as a basis for the expedient behaviour of multicellular systems

Human seminal plasma sperm motility inhibitor (SPMI) proteins which are exclusively secreted from seminal vesicles, inhibit sperm motility. It is secreted as biologically active 52 kDa and a mixture of 71 and 76 kDa precursor forms, which are identical to semenogelin-I and II (Sg-I and Sg-II), respectively. To understand the molecular mechanism underlying the inhibition of sperm motility by SPMI proteins, we expressed human Sg-I and Sg-II genes in insect cells using a baculovirus system. The baculoviruses expressing full-size Sg-I and Sg-II proteins that were N-terminally-tagged with a hexahistidine were selected, and were infected with Sf 21 cells. The Sg-I and Sg-II proteins were purified from infected cells by column chromatography using Ni-NTA resin 48 h after infection. The full-size Sg-I and Sg-II proteins were obtained in soluble forms. However, they tended to aggregate to form a gel, as expected from naturally occurring semenogelin. Both the purified recombinant Sg-I and Sg-II proteins showed strong SPMI activities with a complete inhibition of sperm motility at 60 units/mg, equivalent to the natural proteins. This production system that permits the generation of purified Sg-I and Sg-II proteins, as well as mutant derivatives, will be helpful for further study on male infertility.     

Thermal physics as the basis for energy and resource conservation in steelmaking

This article outlines improvements in metallurgical technology achieved on the basis of the integration of thermal physics and information science by the Ural school of specialists in metallurgy and thermal physics. In recent years, mathematical modeling, combined with physical modeling, has significantly reduced the optimization time in the thermal design and debugging of new technologies and equipment. Sintering machines have been modernized by introducing automatic control of the thermal and gas-dynamic processes and by designing new ignition hearths. These measures, besides improving heat and mass transfer, have boosted the performance of sintering plants in Russia and elsewhere, while reducing their environmental impact. In pellet roasting, a refined gas-flow system has been organized, and the gas lines have been reconstructed. As a result, the productivity has increased by 10–17%, with 8–15% decrease in the fuel consumption. The losses of gas after purification have fallen by 50–58%. Roasting machines in Russia, Brazil, and Iran have been reconstructed. In recent years, software has been developed for blast furnaces and introduced at Russia’s largest steelworks: OAO Magnitogorskii Metallurgicheskii Kombinat. In blast furnaces, new air heaters for the blast produce temperatures of 1300°C or more by means of furnace gas and air, without added natural gas. In addition, systems processing metallurgical liquid slag at rates of 3–15 t/min and producing granulated slag at a rate of 0.66–2.0 million t/yr have been built at Russian, Ukrainian, Indian, and Chinese steel plants. A system is also operating successfully at the Norilsk Nickel plant. The thermal conditions in heating furnaces and equipment of various types have been improved on the basis of mathematical simulation of thermophysical processes by means of a dynamic zonal–point model of radiant and complex heat transfer. This method performs well in practice. In recent years, new furnace designs have been developed, and hundreds of heating furnaces have been modernized. Optimal thermal organization has significantly reduced fuel consumption, improved heating of the metal, and resulted in higher quality of the heat-treated product.     

Material balance as the basis for process control in electrowinning and electrorefining

Electrowinning and electrorefining, like chemical processes generally, are amenable to comprehensive material balance analysis for purposes of process control. However, current efficiency in electrowinning is insufficient to provide the requisite agreement between current and electrolyte flows on the one hand and observed concentration changes on the other. The many factors contributing to volume change and metal loss is electrowinning determine a “volume efficiency”, as previously defined, which can differ significantly from 100%. Use of volume efficiency in conjuction with current efficiency is illustrated by experimental data for the case of nickel electrowinning employing a porous separator. In electrorefining, anode current efficiency is a major factor in the material balance. The chemical compositions of anodes and cathodes and their respective current efficiencies contribute the source terms for soluble impurity buildup in the electrolyte. An analysis is developed which takes into account the principal mechanisms of extraneous weight loss of anodes, including dissolution of oxide inclusions, disintegration and chemical corrosion. The considerations involved are illustrated for nickel impurity in copper anodes.     

Functional specificity of the mediator systems as the basis for neostriatum polyfunctional properties

Following intrastriatal administration of dopamine-, GABA-, and encephalinergic drugs, the changes occurring in the rat behaviour were associated with a concrete transmitter system's activity and neostriatum polyfunctionality (and not an unspecific nature).     

社会需求是技工教育课程模式决策的依据

随着中国加入“WTO“的步伐加快,世界范围内的“信息革命“方兴未艾,预示着我国的现代化进程面临巨大的机遇和挑战.技术教育作为国民教育的重要组成部分,直接担负着造就一大批能适应社会发展的各行各业的专门人才.……     

Using the longitudinal Guttman simplex as a basis for measuring growth.

Many difficulties inherent in the measurement of growth stem from the use of traditional measurement methodologies. The longitudinal Guttman simplex (LGS), an alternative approach based on a model of growth, is discussed in this article. The LGS has several advantages over traditional methodology. First, interindividual differences in developmental rates are a part of the model. Second, the LGS procedure can easily handle any number of occasions of measurement. Third, the LGS is suited to nonlinear as well as linear monotonic growth. Fourth, a consistency index associated with the LGS methodology, CL, indicates the extent to which cumulative, unitary development characterizes a particular latent variable. Finally, and perhaps most important, because a model of the growth undergone by the latent variable being measured is incorporated in the LGS model the resulting instruments enjoy a high level of construct validity. The LGS is limited to cumulative, unitary development; additional measurement theories are needed for other kinds of development. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The mechanism of the development of the synapse as the basis for its involution

The electron microscopic investigation of human brain synaptic organization in normal aging and in ischemic heart pathology in different life periods was performed. A significant quantity of desmosome-like and mixed contacts was shown. Their ultrastructural organization was similar to that of developing synapses during prenatal ontogenesis and in newborn rats. The analysis of the experimental results suggests that an appearance of desmosome-like contacts in the human brain results from synapse involution. This is supported by the observation of formation of mixed contacts which may be a transitional stage between symmetrical or asymmetrical specialized synapse and desmosome. Thus, the mechanism of synaptic involution appears to be a mirror reflection of the mechanism of its development.     

Vocal cord laterofixation as early treatment for acute bilateral abductor paralysis after thyroid surgery

Bilateral vocal cord palsy due to a lesion of the recurrent laryngeal nerves is a serious complication of thyroid operations, with the airway obstruction usually necessitating tracheostomy. In the cases presented, a stable airway was ensured with endolaryngeal cord laterofixation instead of tracheostomy. The operation was performed with the endo-extralaryngeal needle carrier instrument devised by Lichtenberger. During the operation, only minor surgical trauma occurred in the larynx. The fixing thread was then removed following recovery of contralateral vocal cord function, resulting in an improvement in the voice. Four patients are described who suffered bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy after thyroid gland operations. During the follow-up period of 3-12 months, airway stability was demonstrated by regular spirometric measurements. The simple method recommended spares patients the possible complications of tracheostomy.     

Geographical informational technology as the basis for the informational integration for the large-scale evaluation of the environment

Complex evaluation of environmental state requires processing of extensive information describing various components and objects of environment. Characteristic of this information is territory fix--each environmental object has definite geographic position and border. The authors discuss effects of up-to-date geographic information technologies on evaluation of environmental state in Bashkortostan Republic. Examples of analysis and simulation of possible changes in environmental state are given.