A Specific Sexual Orientation-Related Difference in Navigation Strategy.

During spatial navigation, women typically navigate an environment using a landmark strategy, whereas men typically use an orientation strategy. To examine the as yet unknown effects of sexual orientation on these normative sex differences, this study required 80 healthy heterosexual and homosexual adult men and women to provide directions from experimental maps for 4 routes. The frequency and type of strategy used by each participant were computed. Expected sex differences were demonstrated, and a robust cross-sex shift was shown by homosexual men in using landmarks. This remained after controlling for differences in mental rotation, directional sense, and general intelligence. The findings may limit the number of putative neurodevelopmental pathways responsible for sex differences in navigation strategy utility. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of Particle Size on the Dissolution Characteristics of Chlorthalidone

The particle size reduction of chlorthalidone by fluid energy milling, Alpine milling and Fitzpatrick milling were evaluated. The desired particle size was achieved by both the fluid energy milling and Alpine milling processes. Alpine mil1ing, however, is a more complex process and is susceptible to product decomposition, whereas fluid energy milling is a simple and efficient process without any risk of product decomposition. The desired particle size cannot be achieved by Fitzmilling because of the low probability of impaction force on particles. The dissolution rate of the chlorthalidone from chlorthalidone/propranolol hydrochloride tablets (25/80 mg) prepared with fluid energy milled chlorthalidone was significantly better than the tablets prepared with Fitzpatrick - milled chlorthalidone. The minimum effective specific surface area of chlorthalidone needed for maximum dissolution in water was found to be around 3.5 m²/g.     

SOME PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF GLASS TANK BLOCK REFRACTORIES1

Porosity, crushing strength, elasticity, specific gravity, transverse strength, thermal expansion, impact strength, and resistance to heat shock were determined on five glass tank block refractory bodies. Ability to resist heat shock was successfully predicted from the elasticity, transverse strength, thermal diffusivity, and thermal expansion values.     

Patterns of adjustment among children of battered women.

Children exposed to interparental violence have been characterized by an array of psychological problems, but findings regarding the precise nature of these problems have been inconsistent. This study used cluster analysis to determine whether distinct patterns of adjustment could be identified in 228 8- to 14-year-old children residing in battered women's shelters. Five such patterns emerged: multiproblem–externalizing, multiproblem–internalizing, externalizing, mild distress, and no problems reported. This solution was cross-validated in independent halves of the sample and was similar for boys and girls. Differences among the clusters on relevant family and demographic variables were examined, and it was found that the clusters could be distinguished on the basis of the frequency of children's exposure to interparental violence, parent–child aggression, and children's appraisals of interparental conflict. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Racial effects in counseling-like interviews: An experimental analogue.

Examined racial E effects in counseling-like interviews employing the verbal operant-conditioning paradigm. The general objective was to determine whether significant differences in the conditionability of 12 Black and 12 White female college students, as measured by their emission of positive and negative self-reference emotional affect statements, would obtain when the verbal reinforcement was provided by 2 Black and 2 White Es. A postexperimental inquiry assessed Ss' perceptions of the interviews and their level of awareness of the Es' to influence their verbal behavior. While no definitive conclusions were reached, this study demonstrates that the verbal operant-conditioning paradigm can be used to investigate racial effects on verbal behavior in the counseling interview. Through the use of multiple, biracial Es and Ss, this study goes a step further than other verbal operant-conditioning studies that have explored racial E effects. The absence of significant differences in the E-S racial interaction suggests that race, per se, may not be the most important variable in the E-S (or counselor-client) relationship. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Potassium ferrioxalate as a new inexpensive photochemical pyranometer for extensive field work

The feasibility of using a potassium ferioxalate actinometer as a photochemical pyranometer was studied. The preparation, exposure, and spectrophotometric analysis of the pyranometer cell are described. By calibrating it against a Yellot Mark IV solameter, linear correlations were obtained with respect to total insolation and time of exposure. The spectral response, the quantum yields at different wavelengths, the mechanism of photochemical reaction, and the conversion factor for converting the absorption reading into cal/cm²/min are discussed. The advantages of the new pyranometer are its low cost, simplicity of operation and calibration, high sensitivity, and high tolerance to field conditions. It is useful for mapping solar intensity distribution over a wide area.     

Transection of direct anterior thalamic afferents from the hippocampus: Effects on activity and active avoidance in rats.

Demonstrated the importance of the direct hippocampo-anterior thalamic component of the postcommissural fornix in the control of general locomotion and active avoidance; 40 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were Ss in 3 experiments. Transection of anterior thalamic afferents from the hippocampal formation (subicular cortex), at the point where they exit from the fornix posterior to the septum, enhanced bidirectional active avoidance acquisition and increased general activity. This transection may also interrupt fibers to or from other thalamic nuclei and the anterior septum. However, destruction of connections of the anterior septum with the hippocampus, habenula, and thalamus by transection in the coronal plane anterior to the descending fornix columns, without damage to the subiculothalamic fibers, increased general activity levels without affecting active avoidance behavior. The activity increase in this case resembled that seen after septal lesions rather than that seen after hippocampal lesions. Thus, destruction of a single fornix component contributing afferents to the anterior thalamic nuclei reproduces at least part of the hippocampal syndrome. This suggests that these fibers contribute significantly to the control of these behaviors and may mediate active avoidance changes resulting from hippocampal and fornix damage. (40 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Economist challenges Albee's conclusions.

Responds to 3 issues in G. W. Albee's (see record 1977-29846-001) paper on hedonism in society: the relation between protestantism and economic development, the downfall of the Protestant ethic due to hedonistic consumers, and the rise of capitalism and the repression of sex. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The formation of spherical wear particles

A number of recent papers report the formation of spherical wear particles during sliding. In this paper a model is developed in which wear particles formed by adhesive wear processes are trapped in cavities in the sliding surfaces and become smoothed by burnishing processes. It is shown that the reported spherical particle diameters and lengths of sliding are consistent with this model. According to the model, spherical particles are only to be anticipated in slow uniaxial sliding, in fretting and within cracks of a material being fatigued.