Effects of aerosol heating rate on the properties of aggregates of lead zirconate titanate nanoparticles produced by spray pyrolysis

The dependence of the shape and size distribution of aggregates of lead zirconate titanate nanoparticles prepared by spray pyrolysis of a sol–gel precursor solution is reported. Decreasing the average heating rate from 300 to 160 °C s⁻¹ in the sub-200 °C section of the reactor decreased the proportion of non-spherical particle aggregates and decreased the maximum size from ~10 to ~5 μm. Microtome sectioning revealed an internal structure composed of <100 nm primary particles. Both solid and hollow particle aggregates were present.     

BT's Mobile Joint Ventures and Alliances

This paper outlines the current status of the BT Group mobile joint ventures, in terms of shareholding, and goes on to highlight the key challenges BT has faced in order to increase its global reach.A new mobile operator, as a fresh entrant into an already competitive market, has to face a range of major challenges. These key to-date challenges are discussed, along with experiences from a number of major mobile ventures within Europe.With an increasing number of the mobile ventures obtaining licences to operate 3rd generation mobile networks (i.e. UMTS) there is another set of 'new challenges' to be identified and overcome. The preparations for meeting these new challenges posed by the introduction of 3rd generation mobile networks are outlined, alongside some initiatives from BT Group as part of their contribution to the new 'wireless family'.     

An intrinsic source of behavioral regulation that influences discrete responses to cues important for the initiation of suckling.

The present experiment investigated the relationship between motor activity and oral grasping of an artificial nipple in newborn rats. Pups orally grasped the artificial nipple, and they performed more and longer oral grasps in the latter portion of the nipple presentation. Motor activity was cyclical, and this cyclicity was evident before and during presentation of the artificial nipple. The onset of an oral grasp response was preceded by a period of relatively low motor activity, and the termination of a grasp was followed by relatively high motor activity. The newborn rat pup's intrinsic oscillations in motor activity may regulate the expression of discrete responses to cues important for the initiation of suckling. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Triarchic theories of intelligence: Aristotle and Sternberg.

Aristotle's triarchic theory of intelligence prefigures, but apparently does not serve directly as a source for, Sternberg's comparable contemporary theory. The independently derived similarities in their gross structure lend weight to some triarchic view. Sternberg's analytical, practical, and creative intelligences closely resemble Aristotle's theoretical, practical, and productive excellences of intelligence. Each comparable component incorporates significantly related ideas. Disparities may be attributed to a variety of differences in the aims, methods, and resources of Aristotle's and Sternberg's inquiries. This is not the first time in the history of psychology that roughly parallel investigations have yielded comparable theories, but it is surely among the most temporally disjoined. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The natural history of cigarette smoking: Predicting young-adult smoking outcomes from adolescent smoking patterns.

Assessed the magnitude of risk that adolescent cigarette smoking carries for adult smoking, using longitudinal data from 4,156 Ss surveyed originally during Grades 6–12 and followed up after completion of high school. Even infrequent experimentation (i.e., smoking only a few cigarettes) in adolescence significantly raised the risk for adult smoking by a factor of 16 compared to nonsmoking adolescents. Relative risk was also increased by early onset of smoking and by a stable, uninterrupted course from experimentation to regular smoking. Data support the importance of primary prevention programs directed at adolescent populations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hypnotic hallucination alters evoked potentials.

Studied whether the amplitude of the visual EP is reduced during hypnotic hallucination in which the S is instructed to perceive visual stimuli as diminished in brightness or obstructed from view. The visual EP responses of 6 high- and 6 low-hypnotizable Ss (aged 18–33 yrs) and of 6 undergraduate controls were compared in 3 hypnotic conditions: stimulus enhancement, stimulus diminution, and stimulus elimination (obstructive hallucination). ANOVA revealed that high-hypnotizable Ss demonstrated significant suppression of the later components of the EP response (N? and P?) while experiencing obstructive hallucinations, indicating a change in information processing. This effect was significantly greater in the right, as compared to the left, occipital region. (35 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Patient variable biases in clinical judgment: Conceptual overview and methodological considerations.

Specific conceptual factors are presented as having contributed to the negative findings of past psychotherapy bias research. Among these factors are the restrictive nature of both the definition of bias and the model of the biased clinician. A review of published studies of several patient variable biases (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity, and age) indicates that bias may best be defined in broader terms and that its occurrence may be more circumscribed than originally conceived. In addition, the lack of a theoretical perspective in this area of research is noted and the applicability of some social cognitive processes is discussed. Methodological factors are also considered, and recommendations for future research are offered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)