Lesbian mothers who conceived after donor insemination: a follow-up study

This study investigated the development of family relationships in lesbian families who conceived after donor insemination (DI). The main characteristics of this unknown family structure were analysed. An anonymous donor was used to conceive, the family unit consisted of two mothers and a father was non-existent, and both women had a homosexual orientation. A total of 50 lesbian couples who conceived after DI with children aged between 1 and 2 years participated in this study, using a standardized interview created for this study. After the birth of their child, 56% of the lesbian mothers (n = 100) would have wanted the identity of the donor to be registered, while 10% would have done so at the time of the insemination. Opinions differed in 12 of the 50 couples: the biological mother was in favour of identity registration while the social mother was not. Both women considered themselves a parent of the child with equally shared responsibilities. Mothers were open about the special features of their family structure with children and within their immediate social network. Only 30% disclosed their lesbian identity in a broader social environment. The features of these newly created families may influence the psychological development of the children and therefore make long-term follow-up studies indispensable.     

Expressed emotion, social skill, and response to negative affect in schizophrenia.

Examined social skills and social perception of 48 schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder patients (aged 18–55 yrs) in response to negative affect as a function of family expressed emotion (EE). Ss participated in a role-play test, a social perception test, and a problem-solving discussion with a family member and were assessed on several measures of symptomatology. EE of family members was evaluated with the Camberwell Family Interview. On the role-play test, Ss with less critical relatives became more assertive in response to increased negative affect from a confederate portraying either a family member or friend, but Ss with highly critical relatives did not. Ss with highly critical relatives were also less assertive when confronted with negative affect from a confederate portraying a family member rather than a friend. The behaviors of both relatives and Ss during a family problem-solving interaction were related to the EE dimensions of criticism, emotional overinvolvement, and warmth. Patient gender was also related to family problem solving but was independent of EE. S's ratings of affect on a videotaped social perception task were not related to family EE, and there were few differences in psychopathology between Ss with high and low EE relatives.… (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The analysis of arbitrarily shaped aperture-coupled patch antennasvia a mixed-potential integral equation

A mixed-potential integral equation (MPIE) is formulated for the electric and magnetic currents on a multilayered aperture-coupled patch antenna. The integral equation is solved via the method of moments (MoM) using subsectional basis functions that allow the analysis of nonrectangular aperture and patch shapes. The input impedance and radiation efficiency of various aperture-coupled elements are calculated using the proposed technique and compared to measured results. The advantages and disadvantages of several aperture and patch configurations are discussed, and six methods of numerically de-embedding the element's input impedance are compared     

The cultural construction of self-enhancement: An examination of group-serving biases.

Self-serving biases, found routinely in Western samples, have not been observed in Asian samples. Yet given the orientation toward individualism and collectivism in these 2 cultures, respectively, it is imperative to examine whether parallel differences emerge when the target of evaluation is the group. It may be that Asians show a group-serving bias parallel to the Western self-serving bias. In 2 studies, group-serving biases were compared across European Canadian, Asian Canadian, and Japanese students. Study 1 revealed that Japanese students evaluated a family member less positively than did both groups of Canadian students. Study 2 replicated this pattern with students' evaluations of their universities. The data suggest that cultural differences in enhancement biases are robust, generalizing to individuals' evaluations of their groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Encoded moire inspection based on a computer solid model

An investigation into a system linking a computer solid modeler to an active stereo imaging inspection station is presented. Given the computer solid model of a surface, a projected pattern can be encoded so that the reflections from the object's surface exhibit a uniformly simple pattern when the object's surface and the modeled surface are identical. Research concerning the method of generating projection patterns, as well as the sensitivity of the system, is discussed. A prototype system consisting of a computer graphics workstation; a flexible projector, and a machine vision system was used to inspect two different manufactured parts     

Perceived equity, motivation, and final-offer arbitration in major league baseball.

Final-offer salary arbitration in major league baseball offers a unique institutional arrangement that creates a naturally occurring, non-equivalent-groups, repeated measures research design. The structural arrangements allow for examination of anticipatory expectancy effects and assessment of behavioral responses consistent with equity theory predictions. In addition, equity theory can be tested without the methodological problems inherent in defining the referent other. Performance and mobility were examined for major league baseball position players who won and lost their arbitration hearings. Prearbitration performance significantly predicted arbitration outcome. A significant relationship was noted between losing arbitration and postarbitration performance decline. Losers were significantly more likely to change teams and leave major league baseball. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The detection and documentation of trace wound patterns by use of an alternative light source

This article is a discussion of the use of narrow-band light sources coupled with cameras equipped with band-pass filters to document patterned injuries on human skin. Several case reports are included.     

Attentional cues in chronic schizophrenia: Abnormal disengagement of attention.

M. I. Possner's 1980 reaction time (RT) paradigm was used to examine the engagement and disengagement operations of visual selective attention in patients with schizophrenia. In the 1st experiment 14 medicated, chronic schizophrenic Ss (diagnosed by criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DSM-I]), and 15 age-matched normal and control Ss made a speeded response to a target preceded by a valid, and invalid, or no cue. Control Ss showed the expected advantage and disadvantage in RT for valid and invalid cues, which suggests intact engagement and disengagement operations. For schizophrenic Ss, valid cues also enhanced RT, but invalid cues did not slow RT. Similar results were found in the 2nd experiment. The failure of unpredictable, invalid cues to inhibit RT in chronic schizophrenia may be related to an abnormality in the disengagement operation of selective attention. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Digit Symbol and Symbol Digit Modalities Tests: Are they directly interchangeable?

45 persons (aged 19–74 yrs) referred for neuropsychological evaluation were administered both the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) and the Digit Symbol (DS) subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS). SDMT and DS scores correlated very highly (r?=?.91). Relative to the tests' normative populations, however, the SDMT yielded scores for individual Ss that were the equivalent of 4–5 WAIS age-scaled points lower than obtained DS age-scaled scores. Results indicate that SDMT and DS scores cannot be presumed to be directly interchangeable in clinical use and suggest a general need for caution when interpreting interest patterns across measures normed on different populations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)