Object-carrying by rats: Disruption by ventral mesencephalic lesions.

In 22 of 30 male Wistar rats, reliable object-carrying was elicited concurrently with self-stimulation in a shuttlebox. Unilateral electrolytic and neurotoxic 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions in the vicinity of the substantia nigra in 14 of the carrier Ss disrupted object-carrying in postoperative tests. As the 6-OHDA lesions reduced ipsilateral striatal tyrosine hydroxylase levels to less than 5% of the contralateral striatum, this suggests a role for the ascending dopaminergic nigrostriatal bundle in stimulation-induced object-carrying. Shuttlebox self-stimulation was unaffected by either type of lesion, and this result is interpreted as evidence for a dissociation of the neural correlates of self-stimulation and object-carrying. Implications of this finding for S. E. Glickman and D. B. Schiff's (see record 1967-05745-001) biological theory of reinforcement are discussed. Furthermore, the ineffectiveness of substantia nigra lesions on ipsilateral hypothalamic self-stimulation implies that while the dopaminergic nigrostriatal bundle may be subserving some aspects of lateral hypothalamic self-stimulation, the role is by no means an exclusive one. (French summary) (42 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Synthesis,fluorescence emission spectra and chiroptical properties of copolymers of N-vinylcarbazole and optically active fumarates

Optically active (?)menthylethylfumarate (2) and (?)dimenthylfumarate (3) have been synthesised and free radically copolymerized with N-vinylcarbazole (1). Copolymers of (1) and (2) exhibit a strong tendency to alternation in agreement with earlier conclusions from studies of copolymerization of (1) with diethylfumarate. Surprisingly the much more hindered, but symmetrical fumarate, (3) yields copolymers which always have carbazole monomer contents in excess of the 1:1 alternating ratio. Chiroptical measurements indicate significant induced optical activity in the carbazole chromophores of all the copolymers obtained but, in accord with the predominance of alternating structures, there is no real evidence for any sequence-determined maximum in induced circular dichroism. Fluorescence emission spectra of all copolymer samples exhibit significant asymmetric broadening on the long wavelength (low energy) side of the normal carbazole monomeric emission. This broadening is exhibited even by poly (1-co-2) samples for which the monomer compositions strongly indicate alternating sequences and must, therefore, represent interaction between carbazole segments. Accordingly, and in contrast to widely held assumptions, it is concluded that excimer-like emission may be exhibited by alternating copolymers of N-vinylcarbazole. Further evidence for electronic interactions between non-nearest neighbour carbazole units is provided by u.v. absorption and ¹H-n.m.r. spectra of appropriate copolymers.     

Senator McGovern's article.

Argues that Senator G. McGovern (see record 1970-16481-001) has a distorted view both of the idealism of youth and the situation in Vietnam, and that this idealism is rebellious, irresponsible, morally delinquent, and uninformed by religious/ethical values. (0 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Demographic characteristics as predictors of recidivism and posthospital employment.

Analyzed the relationship between patient demographic characteristics and psychiatric outcome as measured by recidivism and posthospital employment. Ss were 78 former psychiatric patients. Results indicate that the overwhelming amount of variance in recidivism accounted for by demographic data can be attributed to the number of previous hospitalizations. Similarly, 1 demographic variable (employment history) accounted for the major amount of variance in posthospital employment. Implications for research investigations of psychiatric treatment outcome are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Taxonomies and correlates of physique.

"Subjective" and "objective" taxonomies of human physique are more or less correlated among themselves and in different degrees with an array of nonanthropometric variables of interest to psychologists. There is probably closer corespondence between anthropometric data and function than is reported in the literature. The most advanced taxonomies can be improved, principally by: greater differentiation of predictive anatomical variables; increasing the scope of the systems to include such elements as internal body organs, the differential influences of nutrition, and age; and through use of refined multivariate statistical techniques for representing and analyzing complex data. (3-p. ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The physician perspective of health psychologists in medical settings.

Examined physician attitudes and utilization of psychologists in medical settings by administering a 15-item questionnaire to 397 26–78 yr old physicians (84% male) practicing family/general practice, surgery, internal medicine, or miscellaneous clinical medicine. Although differences in attitudes were associated with age, sex, and specialty, generally favorable attitudes toward psychologists were found among Ss. Results show a recognition by the majority of Ss of the role that psychological factors play in medical disease and an appreciation of clinical psychological skills by a large majority. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gel permeation chromatography: The effect of flow rate on efficiency. II

The effect of flow rate on efficiency in gel permeation chromatoraphy has been examined over wide ranges of flow rate, i.e., linear flow velocities using columns of different diameters using both organic and inorganic packings. The results indicate a considerable increase in efficiency at flow velocities below 0.02 cm/s. No lower limit to this increase could be determined due to experimental difficulties. Between flow velocities of 0.02–0.2 cm/s little efficiency is lost.     

Production of a Coacervate Film for Microcapsule Diffusion Studies

Until the last five years, study of microcapsules formed by complex coacervation has been approached almost entirely on an empirical basis. The gelatin-acacia coating formed through complex coacervation is responsible for the sustained release characteristics of the dosage form. Because dissolution of the drug from microcapsules is often limited by the structure and nature of the shell wall, of prime interest would be the construction of an acacia-gelatin film for diffusion studies. Apparent optimal conditions for production of the coacervate film were developed. The conditions were similar to those used to produce microcapsules by various researchers. These conditions produced a coacervate film which could be cut into two square centimeter sections apparently suitable for diffusion studies. Films produced by complex coacervation appeared free from structural defects when observed with a stereo-microscope.     

Use of the nonequivalent control group design when subjects are growing.

Many experimental programs aim to accelerate the growth of individuals on some dimension of interest. Typically, a group exposed to the program is compared with a control group. When it is feasible, random assignment of Ss to the program and control groups assures an unbiased comparison between treatments. Without randomization there may be important differences between groups, in terms of pretreatment characteristics and growth potential. In the nonequivalent control group design, pretest and posttest data on both groups are obtained. Statistical methods are used to adjust posttest comparisons, based mainly on pretest information. A variety of statistical techniques have been proposed, but there is much disagreement among methodologists as to which, if any, are adequate. This article examines the adequacy of these techniques, from an individual growth perspective. The performance of various commonly used methods is examined under alternative assumptions about the nature of growth. It is concluded that statistical adjustments are generally inadequate in the face of nonequivalent growth systems across treatment groups. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Some personality and intellectual correlations of intolerance of ambiguity.

The relations among authoritarianism, intelligence, ambiguity tolerance, and adequacy of personal adjustment are investigated, employing 20 male undergraduates as subjects. Authoritarianism correlates positively with manifest anxiety and negatively with intelligence, measured by academic achievement, and ego structure as estimated by an experienced clinical psychologist. No significant relation is found between authoritarianism and tolerance of ambiguous visual or auditory stimuli. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)