“No-background” maximum likelihood analysis in HBT interferometry

We present a new “no-background” procedure, based on the maximum likelihood method, for fitting the space-time size parameters of the particle production region in ultra-relativistic heavy ion collisions. This procedure uses an approximation to avoid the necessity of constructing a mixed-event background before fitting the data.     

Physics and plasticine.

Argues that children's failure on one of Piaget's best known tasks, conservation of solid quantity, reflects ignorance of physical properties rather than inadequate reasoning ability. The evidence for conservation itself, seen from the child's position, is analyzed. It is emphasized that children can learn and enjoy the concepts and methods of physics at much earlier ages than current orthodoxies would indicate. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The weight vector theory of Coriolis mass flowmeters

In this paper a fuller and clear derivation of the weight vector theory of Coriolis mass flowmeters is given indicating its potential for the prediction of velocity profile effects in both the traditional kind of meter (vibrating tube) and the compact kind (vibrating element inside a duct).     

Psychotherapeutic techniques with treatment-resistant adolescents.

Psychotherapy with adolescent clients (ACs) is difficult for at least 2 reasons: ACs frequently do not trust adults and ACs are often poorly motivated for treatment. Consequently there may be significant problems eliciting the cooperation needed to implement successfully various psychotherapeutic treatment techniques (PTTs) with ACs in general, and treatment-resistant ACs in particular. Several PTTs designed to capture ACs' attention, further the psychotherapeutic alliance, and facilitate cooperation are presented. PTTs include siding with the AC, teaching strategic skills, exploring moral dilemmas, wagering on cognitions and behaviors, and alternative communication strategies. Case illustrations are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of PTTs. It is recommended that psychotherapists consistently review the quality of their relationship with ACs to facilitate successful implementation of PTTs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Primary intrathoracic lymphangioma masquerading as teratoma

Two cases of cystic hygroma arising as a primary lesion in the chest are presented. Because of calcifications discovered on CT and because of the anterior location of the mass in both cases, teratoma was the first diagnostic consideration. However, after surgical removal, histologic study determined that both lesions were cystic hygromas with areas of scattered calcification probably secondary to hemorrhage. These cases are presented because of the remarkable similarity of their imaging features to those of teratoma.     

Flat affect in schizophrenia does not reflect diminished subjective experience of emotion.

Although accorded historical significance, affective features of schizophrenia have only begun to receive systematic empirical attention. Interestingly, both early psychopathology writers and more recent investigators have reported frequent discrepancies between schizophrenics' feelings and outward expressions of emotion. Using a more comprehensive assessment of emotion, the present study examines the relationship between emotional experience and expression in a sample of medication-free schizophrenics. Compared with their normal counterparts, schizophrenics were indeed much less facially expressive of both positive and negative emotions during emotion-eliciting films, yet they reported experiencing as much positive and negative emotion. Therefore, the blunted affect typical of some schizophrenics misrepresents their underlying emotional experience. Future research into an inhibition hypothesis is recommended. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Serendipity is not serendipitous.

Serendipitous events have been shown to affect the careers of prominent counseling psychologists. Why should this seem surprising? Unplanned events affect everyone's career. The surprise is due to the widespread but unfounded assumption that career decisions should be the logical outcome of a "true reasoning" process. Counseling psychologists need to (a) broaden their view so that the reluctance to make an occupational commitment in the face of unpredictable future events can be celebrated as open-mindedness, not denigrated as indecisiveness, (b) teach clients that unplanned events are a normal and expected part of the career development process, and (c) teach clients how to generate unplanned events that contribute to a more satisfying life. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)