The effects of foveal load and visual context on peripheral letter recognition

Peripheral letter recognition was examined by presenting subjects with a letter triad centered 7.16 degrees to the right of fixation. At the same time, a single letter was presented at the point of fixation that was either the same as one of the letters in the triad or different from any of the triad letters. On other trials, no letter was presented at the point of fixation. Results supported and extended previous foveal load research. The disruptive effect of foveal load does not depend solely on the presence or absence of a foveal stimulus. Recognition of the first letter in non-words was disrupted when a foveal letter was presented that was different from the peripheral letter. Recognition of the middle letter for both words and non-words was disrupted when a foveal letter was presented that was the same as the middle letter. A significant interaction between foveal letter and triad type was also found. No evidence was found to suggest that recognition of a peripheral letter is significantly better when that same letter is also present at the point of fixation.     

The chemistry of ‘alkali-aggregate’ reaction

To clarify ideas about the alkali aggregate reaction, the reaction between sodium hydroxide and various forms of silica has been studied. Variations with time in the sodium, hydroxyl and silica concentrations in solution have been followed and the volume change of solid silica immersed in solution has been measured.If the silica is an absorbant and reactive form such as silica gel, there is an immediate drop in both sodium and hydroxyl concentrations. Subsequently, as the silica dissolves, sodium concentration rises again. Both the final concentration of dissolved silica and the volume expansion of solid silicate pass through a maximum at an intermediate total Si0₂/Na₂0 mole ratio.