Restraint, weight loss, and variability of body weight.

Restrained and unrestrained Ss (n?=?24) were weighed daily for a 6-wk period and again 6 mo later in order to determine whether dietary restraint or relative body weight is the better predictor of weight variability. Restraint was a significantly better predictor of naturally occurring weight fluctuations than was relative body weight. Furthermore, the 2 factors of the Restraint Scale, Concern for Dieting and Weight Fluctuations, were both significant predictors of weight variability. We propose that exaggerated weight fluctuations are not a natural concomitant of higher body weight but possibly the consequence of a cycle of dieting and overeating, which seems to preclude actual weight loss. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relational models in psychoanalytic theory.

Explores basic relational tenets that affect the psychoanalytic situation. The relational perspective's contribution to psychoanalysis is the elaboration of the psychic dynamics generated in the interpersonal field. Contributions from relational and interpersonal thinkers focus attention on important issues (e.g., the impact on the analytic process of the person of the analyst, the nature of interaction, the structure of the unconscious). This focus has enriched psychoanalytic dialog but has also generated questions concerning the theoretical foundations of the relational model. The concepts of transference, the dynamic unconscious, resistance, the method of free association, and the nature of conflict are aspects of the psychoanalytic situation that may be particularly affected by assumptions of the relational perspective. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Something there is that doesn't love a wall: Censorship and the Communications Decency Act - Part 2

In this short series of articles the author considers the usefulness of the Communications Decency Act, now law in the United States, to prevent the mailing of obscence, pornographic and hate mail.     

Early classroom behaviors and later misconduct.

A longitudinal study examined the relationship between teacher-rated behaviors (the Devereux Elementary School Behavior Rating Scale) in kindergarten through Grade 3 and delinquency and school misconduct throughout adolescence. 659 children who were at risk because of their urban minority living conditions were initially assessed in 1968, and 380 were successfully followed up in 1982. An early high-risk pattern was identified in both sexes that indicated that Ss who were overly and disruptively involved socially and who failed to modulate their own behavior to accommodate others were likely to come into conflict with authority quite early in life and into adolescence. Results are discussed in relationship to other research on temperament, parent–child interaction, and possible preventive intervention. (47 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Focal cognitively mediated blood-flow activation in Alzheimer's disease patients.

Measured regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), estimated by the 133-Xe inhalation technique, in 7 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients (mean age 65.6 yrs) and 7 normal elderly Ss (mean age 65.3 yrs) during the performance of a right–left discrimination task, a sensorimotor control task, and at normal rest. Significant focal task-related blood-flow activation, attributable primarily to the complex cognitive components of the cognitive task, was found in the normal and AD Ss. The determination of cognitively mediated activation was accomplished by using the blood-flow activation during sensorimotor task performance to account for most of the attentional and response requirements of the cognitive task. Although overall rCBFs were significantly higher for AD Ss, this did not result in a significant differential, cognitively mediated activation pattern. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Knowledge-based systems in context: A methodological approach to the qualitative issues

Knowledge-Based Systems (KBS) are developed to contain substantial elements of human knowledge and expertise in a well-defined domain, and use these to support user or expert tasks. Issues related to the social and organisational contexts of these systems are widely acknowledged to be particularly critical to their success. However, methodology proposals usually stop short of adequately handling soft and unstructured data that frame the contexts of use. The handling of qualitative data needs to be done in a way that directly impinges on the wider Knowledge-Based System engineering processes and decisions. In this paper, we discuss the nature of context-sensitive issues, and describe a methodological approach for resolving them through the rigorous analysis of qualitative data, using a methodology which is based upon the Grounded Theory method from the social sciences.     

HIV risk reduction for incarcerated women: A comparison of brief interventions based on two theoretical models.

Although female inmates are seropositive at rates that exceed those of male inmates, few studies have evaluated HIV risk reduction interventions for incarcerated women. This demonstration project compared an intervention based on social cognitive theory against a comparison condition based on the theory of gender and power. Incarcerated women (N?=?90) were assessed at baseline, postintervention, and again 6 months later. Both interventions produced increased self efficacy, self-esteem, Attitudes Toward Prevention Scale scores, AIDS knowledge, communication skill, and condom application skills that maintained through the 6-month follow-up period. Participants in the intervention based on social cognitive theory showed greater improvement in condom application skills, and women in the program based on the theory of gender and power evidenced greater commitment to change. The results suggests brief interventions in prison settings are feasible and beneficial. However, it is not yet known whether the changes will generalize into the natural environment after the women' s release into the community. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Characterization of α-carrageenan solution behavior by field-flow fractionation and multiangle light scattering

The salt mediated molecular conformation change of alpha (α)-carrageenan was studied in 0.1 M solutions of NaCl, NaI, and KCl. Asymmetric Field-Flow Fractionation with multiangle laser light scattering (AFFF/MALLS) detection was used to determine the average molecular weight, radius of gyration, and hydrodynamic radius which were in turn used to calculate the molecular density. In the presence of 0.1 M NaCl, an inert salt that does not promote gelation, α-carrageenan has a denser structure compared to κ-carrageenan of a similar molecular weight. A distinct and dramatic increase in the molecular weight (factor of 2) was observed for α-carrageenan in 0.1 M NaI compared to 0.1 M NaCl. This combined with only a slight change in the radius of gyration, suggests intermolecular interaction to a more compact structure (e.g., coaxial helices). A similar increase in molecular weight is observed in 0.1 M KCl, accompanied with an approximate 50% increase in the radius of gyration as well as an increase in polydispersity. This may also be attributed to intermolecular interaction with helix formation (coaxial or lateral) or may be due to K⁺ cations interacting with naturally occurring residual ι-carrageenan in the sample. As previously reported for other carrageenans the random coil to helix transition of α-carrageenan appears to be stabilized by K⁺ cation or I⁻ anion in an aqueous environment.     

Alternative technologies for US residential water heating : Energy savings and economic benefits

This article evaluates the energy savings and direct economic benefits of introducing heat pump and solar water heaters to the US residential market and the effects of a tax credit for solar installations. Energy savings are estimated for ten regions of the USA, as well as for the country as a whole, over the period 1977–2000. Changes in annual fuel bills and capital costs for water heaters are also computed. The results suggest that heat pump water heaters are likely to offer much larger benefits than solar heaters, even with tax credits. This is because heat pumps provide the same electricity savings (about 50%), but at a much lower capital cost.