A theory of visual information acquisition and visual memory with special application to intensity-duration trade-offs.

Describes a theory of memory for visual material in which the visual system acts as a linear filter operating on a stimulus to produce a function, a(t), relating some sensory response to t (the time since stimulus onset). Stimulus information is acquired at a rate proportional to the product of the magnitude by which a(t) exceeds some threshold, and the amount of as-yet-unacquired information. Recall performance is assumed to equal the proportion of acquired information. The theory accounts for data from 2 digit-recall experiments in which stimulus temporal waveform was manipulated. The authors comment on the theory's account of the relation between 2 perceptual events: the phenomenological experience of the stimulus, and the memory representation that accrues from stimulus presentation. It is asserted that these 2 events, although influenced by different variables, can be viewed as resulting from 2 characteristics of the same sensory-response function. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Combined effects of nicotine and mecamylamine in attenuating smoking satisfaction.

Separate and combined effects of nicotine (NIC) and the nicotinic antagonist mecamylamine (MEC) were studied. 12 smokers rated test cigarettes after administration of MEC vs placebo capsules and NIC vs non-NIC preload. Smoking withdrawal symptoms, task performance, and cardiovascular activity were also measured. MEC attenuated smoking satisfaction, liking, and airway sensations. The NIC preload similarly reduced the enjoyable aspects of subsequent test cigarettes, and this action of the preload was not prevented by MEC. In contrast, MEC blocked NIC-related increases in heart rate and systolic blood pressure. Conversely, NIC counteracted MEC's effects on tapping speed and orthostatic blood pressure response. Although each drug offset potential side effects of the other, they acted in unison to attenuate smoking satisfaction and should be evaluated in combination for smoking cessation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ethical knowledge exhibited by clients and nonclients.

Two studies were conducted to explore the relation between (a) experience in counseling and psychotherapy and (b) ethical knowledge. In Study 1, 77 college students reported their experience as clients in a variety of settings and then completed a questionnaire concerning their knowledge of ethical issues. The hypothesis that clients (subjects who had counseling experience) would demonstrate ethical knowledge superior to that of nonclients (those with no such experience) was not supported. Ethical knowledge did not differ as a function of counseling experience, the setting in which counseling was received, or the number of sessions. However, though overall ethical knowledge was high across groups, knowledge with respect to each ethical issue was incomplete. In Study 2, following the same procedure, we compared 17 current psychotherapy clients at a Veterans Administration medical center with 15 nonclients, patients in the hypertension clinic who had never received psychological services. These clients demonstrated superior ethical knowledge on specific issues (.008?ps?     

Energy demand and conservation in US residential and commercial buildings Impact of the US national energy plan

This paper evaluates the impact of the US National Energy Plan on energy demand in US commercial and residential buildings. Following a brief historical review of energy use patterns in US buildings, estimates are presented of how the National Energy Plan would affect the sector in terms of fuel expenditures and investment in energy using equipment and structures. The analysis is based on economic-engineering models of energy demand which are currently being used by the US Department of Energy to evaluate conservation programmes. The demand models incorporate behavioural as well as technological determinants and are sufficiently disaggregated to allow consideration of individual components of the National Energy Plan.     

Texture of beef M. semitendinosus heated before,during and after development of Rigor Mortis

Samples of beef M. semitendinosus were heated at different rates at times up to 3 days after slaughter and the texture determined instrumentally. Rapid heating soon after slaughter produced normal shear values for cooked meat but slow heating gave very tough meat. At later times, shear values were unaffected by the heating rate and decreased with increasing time after slaughter. Multivariate analyses of the effects of holding-time after slaughter, heating rate, pH, sample length and weight before and after heating, showed that variations in shear values of meat heated within 18 h after slaughter were largely due to the combined influences of shortening and of muscle pH after heating.     

Calcium activation of peanut lipoxygenase

Peanut lipoxygenase isozyme 1 (pH optimum, 8.3) was strongly activated by 0.5–1.0 mM Ca⁺⁺, and the rate of activation was maximum when the ratio of substrate to Ca⁺⁺ was ca. 2∶1. Peanut lipoxygenase isozymes 2 and 3 (pH optima, 6.2) were activated by calcium but did not have an optimum level of activity. Calcium differentially activated peanut lipoxygenase causing the rate of pentane production to increase much more rapidly than the rate of oxygen consumed by the enzyme reaction. At pH 6.2, in the absence of calcium, the percentages of the hydroperoxide isomers produced by peanut lipoxygenase were 74.9% 13-hydroperoxycis-9,trans-11-octadecadienoic acid (13 LOOHcis-trans), 2.6% 13-hydroperoxytrans-9,trans-11-octadecadienoic acid (13 LOOHtrans-trans) and 22.5% 9-hydroperoxy 10, 12-octadecadienoic acid (9 LOOH). The presence of 1 mM Ca⁺⁺ at pH 6.2 did not significantly affect the percentage distribution of the hydroperoxides produced. However, at pH 8.3, the percentage distribution of hydroperoxides produced was 45.2% 13 LOOHcis-trans, 10.9% 13 LOOHtrans-trans and 43.9% 9 LOOH in the absence of Ca⁺⁺ and 57.0% 13 LOOHcis-trans, 8.0% 13 LOOHtrans-trans and 35.0% 9 LOOH in the presence of 1 mM Ca⁺⁺. Paper No. 5110 of the Journal of the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, Raleight, NC 27607.     

Residential energy conservation: Analysis of US federal programmes

The authors examine three residential energy conservation programmes under study and development by the US government. These programmes include setting appliance efficiency targets, developing new thermal standards for housing, retrofitting existing houses to improve thermal performance and a stronger energy conservation programme. The programmes are compared using a model developed for the FEA and ERDA which projects consumption up to the year 2000. The major conclusion is that the programmes can save both energy for the USA and money for individual households.     

A new phosphorylation reaction of olefins. III. Derivatives of some unsaturated fatty materials

The reaction of olefins with phosphorus trichloride in the presence of aluminum chloride was recently reported to result in phosphorus-containing acids or acid chlorides of the type This new phosphorylation reaction was extended to fatty acid derivatives containing olefinic double bonds, such as methyl oleate, oleonitrile, oleamide, N,N-dimethyloleamide, olive oil, oleylacetamide and oleyl alcohol. Phosphorylated fatty derivatives were obtained in good yield in all cases. Presented at the AOCS meeting in New Orleans, La., 1962.