Mirror-reading and writing in association with right-left spatial disorientation

A left-handed patient suddenly developed a right hemiparesis, mirror-reading, and mirror-writing. Although he could discriminate between right and left on himself, he demonstrated right/left spatial disorientation. We propose that his right/left spatial disorientation was induced by a scanning defect. It has been demonstrated that mirror-image engrams are normally available. We believe that a reversal of the learned left-to-right scanning process with the availability of mirror engrams induced mirror-reading. Similarly, reversal of the normal left-to-right writing pattern, with the availability of mirror engrams, induced mirror-writing.     

Safety in solvent extraction plants—USA

The history of the National Fire Protection Association, Solvent Extraction Committee, is discussed with particular emphasis on the impact of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1971. A review of the important features standardized in NFPA No. 36, “Solvent Extraction Plants,” is discussed, with particular emphasis on their relevance to construction of new plants and expansion of existing plants.     

A look at the future

The crushing industry is in a period of overcapacity. Recovery from it will be quicker in Europe and in other countries in which government intervention improves margins. Long-term increases in protein and oil demand will balance the overcapacity with a more efficient industry resulting. Technological improvements will center on efficiency.     

Hemispheric asymmetries of near-far spatial attention.

Although most of the visual cognitive activities performed by the left hemisphere take place close to the body (peripersonal space), most visual cognitive activities mediated by the right hemisphere take place in extrapersonal space. The left hemisphere, therefore, may have a propensity to direct attention toward the body and the right hemisphere away from the body. Because attentional bias influences judgments of spatial magnitude, the authors tested this hypothesis. Normal participants were asked to compare the size of horizontal lines presented in the sagittal plane in either right or left hemispace. When participants looked leftward, lines appeared shorter than when participants looked rightward. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the right hemisphere directs attention toward visual extrapersonal space and the left hemisphere directs attention toward visual peripersonal space. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reactions to prescribed leader behavior as a function of role perspective: The case of the Vroom-Yetton model.

To examine the reputational consequences of various leader behaviors, 2 experiments were conducted in which a leader's reported actions were either correct or incorrect in terms of the V. H. Vroom and P. W. Yetton (1973) contingency model. Results of Study 1, with 25 22–59 yr old volunteers, indicate that, when cast in the role of subordinates, Ss never rated an autocratic leader's behavior as more effective than a participative leader's behavior, even when the situation was one in which autocratic behavior would be prescribed by the Vroom-Yetton model. This finding was replicated in Study 2 when the perspective of 72 19–63 yr old participants was systematically varied. However, in this study Ss assigned the role of boss evaluated leader effectiveness in total accordance with the contingency principles of the model. Findings suggest that the perspective of the individual viewing a leader influences the way in which he/she evaluates that leader's task effectiveness. Data from both studies indicate a consistently more favorable affective response to the participative than to the autocratic leader, regardless of S's perspective or the circumstances. (7 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

High school students' occupational interest as a function of projected sex ratios in male-dominated occupations.

To demonstrate that the sexual composition of a field influences a woman's career interests and preferences, a study was designed to determine the effects of projected shifts in the sexual composition of 2 occupations presently dominated by males. 144 male and female high school students were led to believe that the proportion of women in one of those occupations would be 10% (token), 30% (minority), or 50% (equal) in 15 yrs. Results indicate that, as predicted, projections of more-balanced sex ratios encouraged greater occupational interest among women; however, a totally balanced sex ratio was shown to reduce the degree of occupational interest expressed by men. (6 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Considerations in the development of the automatic implantable defibrillator.

A highly reliable ventricular fibrillation detector and a satisfactory electrode system for delivering defibrillating pulses to the heart play a central role in the development of an automatic implantable defibrillator suitable for clinical use. Among the four implanted electrode designs tested, the combination of an electrode placed in the superior vena cava with a conformal electrode on the apex of the heart provided satisfactory defibrillation thresholds with ease of implantation. A new sensing method is also described for which an electrogram derived from the defibrillating electrodes is used as input. A form of a density function is developed for a filtered version of the input, ventricular fibrillation being characterized by a density curve lacking a large peak occurring at a level corresponding to the baseline of the filtered signal. These ideas are being incorporated into the design of a prototype implantable defibrillator delivering pulses of 24 joules.     

Exploring the enigmas of frontal lobe dysfunction

The clues vary, and many of the "typical" signs are misleading or even contradictory. One patient acts impetuously while another seems to have lost his spontaneity. Still another shows aggressive, animalistic behavior--or becomes apathetic, perhaps curling up in the fetal position or sucking, rooting, or grasping as an infant does. Some patients can memorize and recite a long list of numbers, remember events of the day before, and recall many of their childhood experiences--yet they "forget to remember" why they went to the store. When this happens, it's likely that the frontal lobe isn't performing its goal-orienting function as it should. If a patient takes small steps, has trouble initiating a step, or can't seem to find and keep his center of gravity--or if he involuntarily resists or aids an attempt to move his neck, arms, or legs--he doesn't necessarily have Parkinson's disease; he may have a frontal lobe lesion instead. Usually--but not always--the easiest way to find out is to check for a resting tremor.     

Muscular urinary sphincter: electrically stimulated myoplasty for functional sphincter reconstruction

PURPOSE: To reconstruct an electrically stimulated muscular urinary sphincter (MUS) using a tailored gracilis muscle free flap with intact nerve. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Unilateral surgically tailored gracilis muscle free flaps were transferred into the pelvis in eight dogs, leaving the obturator nerve intact. The muscle's pedicle vessels were anastomosed to the inferior epigastric artery and vein in the pelvis and the muscle was wrapped around the bladder neck. Electrodes were inserted into the MUS and connected to a programmable pulse generator. After 8 weeks of training the MUS, the pulse generator was programmed to be "on" for 4 hours and "off' for 15 minutes in a continuous cycle. Urodynamic studies were performed periodically, and at the end of the experiment the MUS and proximal urethra were harvested for histology. Three control dogs had sham operations. RESULTS: All MUS's functioned well following the procedure. Histology of the MUS/urethra complex showed no evidence of stricture. Except for one dog, all urethras were easily catheterized. CONCLUSIONS: This electrically stimulated innervated free-flap MUS technique effectively increases bladder outlet resistance without producing urethral obstruction.