Some future social repercussions of computers

The prehistory and history of computers and programs are briefly reviewed and are used as a basis for predicting the future. Computers are classified into thirteen generations of which the last five have not yet arrived. A previously published argument is mentioned suggesting that an ultra‐intelligent machine will be built within a few decades and its promise and dangers are emphasized. It is suggested that an association for dealing with the dangers should be started.

A proposal for press‐button peace is mentioned, based on computerized international cooperation. Numerous future applications for computers are briefly discussed, some being natural extrapolations from what has already begun.     

Cerebrosides alter the lyotropic and thermotropic phase transitions of DOPE:DOPC and DOPE:DOPC:sterol mixtures

An infectious cDNA of a highly myocarditic coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3m; Nancy strain) was cloned. Sequence data revealed 43 extra non-viral nucleotides upstream of the initial 5' sequence. However, the authentic 5' end sequence was maintained during replication of viral RNA transfected into HeLa cells, suggesting the RNA synthesizing complex edits the picornaviral 5' terminus sequence. Nucleotide sequences of the 5' nontranslated region and the capsid protein gene sequence of CVB3m were compared with the published sequences of five other CVB3 Nancy strains and two main lineages were found. In comparative assays for cardiovirulence, three of four CVB3 tested were cardiovirulent in adolescent male CD-1 mice. Only one of the three available CVB3 strains was neutralized with several anti-CVB3m monoclonal antibodies, suggesting that mutations in the surface epitopes of the capsid polypeptides contribute to antigenic drift within the serotype, perhaps in part through immunoselective pressures. Thus, phenotypic diversity of CVB3 within the prototype Nancy strain is an example of RNA viruses adapting to changing environments (cells, mice and humans) through mutations and selective pressure.     

Social–cognitive alternatives to dissociation theories of hypnotic involuntariness.

Three social–cognitive models are presented as alternatives to dissociation theories of hypnotic involuntariness. In Model I, people are seen as intentionally enacting responses without being aware of the volitional quality of their acts. In Model II, hypnotic behaviors are seen as prepared responses that are triggered directly by suggestion. The first model corresponds to E. R. Hilgard's (1986) neodissociation theory and the second to K. S. Bowers's (1992) theory of dissociated control, but without positing dissociative mechanisms as explanatory constructs. These constructs are replaced by a consideration of the automaticity that is inherent in commonplace intentional behavior and the degree to which subjective experience is affected by beliefs and expectations. Finally, a composite model reconciling the contradictions between the two prior social–cognitive models is presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A comparison of block copolymer surfactant gels

The aqueous gel forming properties of three series of block copolymer surfactants, poloxamers, poloxamines, and Butronic® polyols, are briefly reviewed and compared. The differences in their gel formation properties are explained. Aqueous gel formation of these polymers is attributed to the aggregation of extended linear coil micelles in which the hydrophilic ends become entangled as the temperature rises, due to dehydration. The failure of the Butronic polyol gels to exhibit the same reverse thermal behavior shown by the other two polyol series is attributed to a more lipophilic hydrophobe and to the larger number of moles of water associated with the Butronic hydrophile. The reverse thermal characteristics of aqueous poloxamer and poloxamine solutions has led to the development of aerosol detergent systems which can form foamy gels, thereby expanding the usefulness of these surfactants.     

Obituary: Rodney R. Cocking (1943-2002).

R. R. Cocking was born on January 11, 1943, in Casper, Wyoming, to a family deeply rooted in the culture of the West. Shortly after his 59th birthday, Cocking was murdered. His death is a great loss to his family, his friends and colleagues, and the field. Cocking was interested in behavioral development, child development, cognitive development, and learning and educational environments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Discrimination of contour-deleted images by pigeons.

Three experiments attempted to determine which properties of pictorial representations of objects control their discrimination by pigeons. A particular focus was whether the representation mediating such discriminations could be described by the simple viewpoint-invariant primitive volumes of I. Biederman's (1987) recognition-by-components theory of object recognition or by J. Cerella's (1990) particulate features. In all 3 experiments, pigeons were first trained to discriminate drawings of 4 stimulus objects with half of the contour deleted but with the component geons postulated by Biederman's theory recoverable. Discrimination accuracy was then compared for test items containing the original particulate features, affording the retrieval of the original component geons, or having neither of these properties of the training stimuli. Although response accuracy was significantly greater when the component geons of the original objects were retrievable, measurable control over recognition by the particulate features of the objects and by their specific locations was also found. The results are consistent with the idea of component geon recognition as one of the important factors in object discrimination. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

(Hu)man versus mean revisited: MMPI group data and psychiatric diagnosis.

Used a meta-analysis of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) data from 403 control and psychiatric samples to (1) examine demographics associated with previously published MMPI studies, (2) test L. R. Goldberg's (1972) indexes for predicting normal versus deviant and neurotic versus psychotic group membership, (3) compare multiple regression, discriminant function, and logistic regression analyses commonly used to study the relation between the MMPI and diagnostic group membership, and (4) examine the signal within the MMPI as it related to current psychiatric diagnosis. Group data were found to be efficient indicators of the relation between the MMPI and diagnosis, although efficiency is compromised by within-sample heterogeneity. The 3 statistical methods examined obtained equivalent results. Regression models related to group prediction are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Altered state of hypnosis: Changes in the theoretical landscape.

Presentations of theories of hypnosis in scholarly and introductory texts portray the field as dominated by two warring camps, variously referred to as state and nonstate or as special process and social psychological. Current issues and theories in the hypnosis literature are examined. In the process, we seek to dispel the myth that hypnosis theorists can be grouped into two camps. Although there is considerable controversy about the nature of hypnosis, no issues separate all so-called special process theorists from all social psychological theorists. Instead, virtually all substantive differences between theorists cut across this apparent distinction. Furthermore, the positions taken on many of the important issues dividing the field can no longer be portrayed as simple dichotomies, such as state vs nonstate or trait vs situation. Positions on these issues can more accurately be described as points on a continuum. We conclude by drawing attention to specific questions and issues that remain unresolved. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

X-ray diffraction from intact tau aggregates in human brain tissue

We describe an instrument to record x-ray diffraction patterns from diseased regions of human brain tissue by combining an in-line visible light fluorescence microscope with an x-ray diffraction microprobe. We use thiazine red fluorescence to specifically label and detect the filamentous tau protein pathology associated with Pick's disease, as several labs have done previously. We demonstrate that thiazine red-enhanced regions within the tissue show periodic structure in x-ray diffraction that is not observed in healthy tissue. One observed periodicity (4.2 ?) is characteristic of cross-beta sheet structure, consistent with previous results from powder diffraction studies performed on purified, dried tau protein.