Can male decorticate rats copulate?

28 hooded sexually experienced or naive male rats, subjected to neocortex removal or neocortex plus hippocampus removal, were paired with female rats for up to 180 days and compared with 14 control rats with respect to success and latency to impregnate the female. All of the controls and half of the brain-damaged Ss successfully impregnated females at least once. Success was not correlated with lesion type or presurgical experience. The brain-damaged Ss took longer to impregnate the females than did controls. Since the ablations were extensive, more than 95% of the neocortex in many Ss, results show that decorticate rats can copulate. Presumably the intact subcortical structures are sufficient for male copulation, but cortical structures in some way facilitate rapid female impregnation. (28 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Some ethical concerns regarding the individual psychotherapy of the married client.

A brief review of the literature establishes the high potential for disturbance of a client's marital relationship following individual psychotherapy. Several problems possibly inherent in the conduct of therapy with only one member of a marital dyad are discussed, as well as some of their probable sources. The importance of informed consent to treatment is stressed with regard to ensuring that potential clients are aware of the possible negative effects of therapy on their marital relationship. The systemic view of the spouse as necessarily involved in the maintenance and modification of the client's complaints, provides an alternative to individual psychotherapy: The spouse must be a part of their therapy from the beginning. It is suggested that the ethical responsibility of the therapist is toward the greatest overall benefit for the client and should concern the interpersonal as well as the psychological environments of the clients they serve. (French abstract) (28 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Learning disabled boys' performance and self-assessments on physical fitness tests

30 learning disabled boys drawn from a segregated private school for learning disabled children and 22 from a public school mainstream program and 22 nondisabled boys performed two physical fitness tests, sit-ups and shuttle run in one of two conditions. While normal achievers performed significantly better on one of the tests, there were no differences between the two samples of learning disabled youngsters. However, students' comparisons of their performance with classmates' indicated that learning disabled youngsters in the private school ranked themselves more favorably than those in mainstream classrooms.     

Examining the consistency of products derived from various ocean color sensors in open ocean (Case 1) waters in the perspective of a multi-sensor approach

During its lifetime, a space-borne ocean color sensor provides world-wide information about important biogeochemical properties of the upper ocean every 2 to 4 days in cloudless regions. Merging simultaneous or complementary data from such sensors to obtain better spatial and temporal coverage is a recurring objective, but it can only be reached if the consistency of the sensor-specific products, as delivered by the various Space Agencies, has first been carefully examined. The goal of the present study is to provide a procedure for establishing a coherency of open ocean (Case-1 waters) data products, for which the various data processing methods are sufficiently similar. The development of the procedure includes a detailed comparison of the marine algorithms used (after atmospheric corrections) by space agencies for the production of standard products, such as the chlorophyll concentration, [Chl], and the diffuse attenuation coefficient, K_d. The MODIS-Aqua, SeaWiFS and MERIS [Chl] products agree over a wide range, between ∼ 0.1 and 3 mg m^− 3, whereas increasing divergences occur for oligotrophic waters ([Chl] (from 0.02 to 0.09 mg m^− 3). For the K_d(490) coefficient, different algorithms are in use, with differing results. Based on a semi-analytical reflectance model and hyperspectral approach, the present work proposes a harmonization of the algorithms allowing the products of the various sensors to be comparable, and ultimately, meaningfully merged (the merging procedures themselves are not examined). Additional potential products, obtained by using [Chl] as an intermediate tool, are also examined and proposed. These products include the thickness of the layer heated by the sun, the depth of the euphotic zone, and the Secchi disk depth. The physical limitations in the predictive skill of such downward extrapolations, made from information concerning only the upper layer, are stressed.     

Experimental Validation of a Helicopter Autopilot Design using Model-Based PID Control

Autonomous helicopter flight provides a challenging control problem. In order to evaluate control designs, an experimental platform must be developed in order to conduct flight tests. However, the literature describing existing platforms focuses on the hardware details, while little information is given regarding software design and control algorithm implementation. This paper presents the design, implementation, and validation of an experimental helicopter platform with a primary focus on a software framework optimized for controller development. In order to validate the operation of this platform and provide a basis for comparison with more sophisticated nonlinear designs, a PID controller with feedforward gravity compensation is derived using the generally accepted small helicopter model and tested experimentally.     

The impact of continuing care adherence on environmental risks, substance use, and substance-related problems following adolescent residential treatment.

The effectiveness of adolescent treatment to reduce substance use has been demonstrated by a number of different literature reviews, yet longer term outcome studies have suggested that continued alcohol and other drug use is common. Participation in continuing care services and reductions in environmental risk factors (e.g., peer substance use or alcohol or drug use in the home) have both been found to be associated with improved posttreatment substance use. The authors conducted Path analysis to examine the experimental direct effect of the Assertive Continuing Care Protocol (S. H. Godley, M. D. Godley, & M. L. Dennis, 2001) on general continuing care adherence following residential treatment and the protocol's indirect effect (via general continuing care adherence) on social and environmental risk factors, as well as subsequent substance use and substance-related problems. Supporting previous findings, the final model indicates that greater adherence to continuing care is associated with reductions in environmental risk, which in turn is associated with reduced adolescent substance use and substance-related problems 9 months after discharge from residential treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An examination of factors contributing to a reduction in subgroup differences on a constructed-response paper-and-pencil test of scholastic achievement.

The authors investigated subgroup differences on a multiple-choice and constructed-response test of scholastic achievement in a sample of 197 African American and 258 White test takers. Although both groups had lower mean scores on the constructed-response test, the results showed a 39% reduction in subgroup differences compared with the multiple-choice test. The results demonstrate that the lower subgroup differences were explained by more favorable test perceptions for African Americans on the constructed-response test. In addition, the two test formats displayed comparable levels of criterion-related validity. The results suggest that the constructed-response test format may be a viable alternative to the traditional multiple-choice test format in efforts to simultaneously use valid predictors of performance and minimize subgroup differences in high-stakes testing. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Physical ergonomic hazards in highway tunnel construction: overview from the Construction Occupational Health Program

This report provides an overview of physical ergonomic exposures in highway construction work across trades and major operations. For each operation, the observational method “PATH” (Posture, Activity, Tools and Handling) was used to estimate the percentage of time that workers spent in specific tasks and with exposure to awkward postures and load handling. The observations were carried out on 73 different days, typically for about 4 h per day, covering 120 construction workers in 5 different trades: laborers, carpenters, ironworkers, plasterers, and tilers. Non-neutral trunk postures (forward or sideways flexion or twisting) were frequently observed, representing over 40% of observations for all trades except laborers (28%). Kneeling and squatting were common in all operations, especially tiling and underground utility relocation work. Handling loads was frequent, especially for plasterers and tilers, with a range of load weights but most often under 15 pounds. The results of this study provide quantitative evidence that workers in highway tunnel construction operations are exposed to ergonomic factors known to present significant health hazards. Numerous opportunities exist for the development and implementation of ergonomic interventions to protect the health and safety of construction workers.