Simulation of the dropping mercury electrode by orthogonal collocation

Orthogonal collocation techniques are used to simulate the solution to the hydrodynamic partial differential equations describing mass transport to a dropping mercury electrode (dme). Accurate values for the concentration profiles and current are obtained with minimal computational effort.     

Current concepts on the texture of fruits and vegetables

Recent research on the texture of fruits and vegetables is evaluated with regard to the relationship between the various facets of perceived texture such as cohesiveness, etc. and the geometrical, physical, and chemical properties of food. The role of polymeric materials such as pectin and cellulose, and their interaction with other components, receives special attention. Coming under consideration are the size of the cells, turgor and factors affecting it, the mechanical properties of cell walls and intercellular adhesion. The influences of storage, heat, chemicals, and enzymes on these characteristics provide insight into their fundamental contributions to texture. Further, the chemical composition and structural components of comminuted foods are related to their texture and rheology.     

Separation protest in infants in home and laboratory.

Observations of 12-18 mo old children in their homes showed that they played less, cried more, and remained near the exit longer when left alone with a stranger than when left alone with either parent. Children tested in the laboratory exhibited greater distress than children tested at home when left with the stranger. No differences between being left with mother or father were found. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Methodological determinants of peculiar personal constructs.

This experiment investigated the effects of variations in instructions and variations in triads on the number of peculiar personal constructs produced on the Role Construct Repertory Test (RCRT). Significant differences were found between maximizing and minimizing conditions in each instance. The results suggest that standard instructions and standard triads should be used in the clinical application of the RCRT. The results also suggest that, in some instances at least, peculiar constructs reflect the use of 2 dimensions to describe a triad rather than a single, idiosyncratic dimension. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Contrasting patterns of fantasy and motility in Irish and Italian schizophrenics.

Several hypotheses concerning differences in fantasy and motor activity of schizophrenics of Irish and Italian descent were developed on the basis of anthropological evaluation of cultural patterns and child-rearing practices. Schizophrenics of Irish descent were expected to be more given to imaginative behavior and motor control when compared with those of Italian descent. Psychological instruments used were the Rorschach, Barron's Movement-Threshold Inkblots, TAT, Porteus Mazes, tests of time estimation, motor inhibition, admission-denial of frustration, and ward behavior ratings. 60 male, veteran patients were used as Ss, one-half of Irish and one-half of Italian descent. The results appeared to support the hypothesis of persistent differences in motor and fantasy activity. Implications for review of psychiatric nosology, personality research, and interdisciplinary collaboration were suggested. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Stability and validity of achievement fantasy.

"Although projective and fantasy instruments have been widely used both in clinical and research settings the reliability and validity of many fantasy variables still remains in question. This paper is the first in a series of reports dealing with the stability and validation of fantasy variables from the TAT and Rorschach and deals specifically with achievement fantasy on the TAT… . (a) its stability over time, (b) its relation to certain antecedent conditions, and (c) its prediction of overt achievement behavior… . It was suggested that achievement fantasy is an index of the strength of the subject's behavioral tendency to seek achievement goals and that achievement concern on the part of the same-sex parent has a special influence on the child's achievement strivings. Specific methodological and theoretical problems with respect to measurement and interpretation of achievement fantasy were discussed." 19 refs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Social learning and clinical psychology.

Reviews the book, Social learning and clinical psychology by Julian B. Rotter (1954). Social Learning and Clinical Psychology is in effect two books in one, a trenchant and forceful evaluation of just what clinicians are doing, and a formulation of a behavior theory which strives to provide a more secure groundwork upon which meaningful clinical practice may be based. The theory, admittedly tentative and incomplete, represents a genuine contribution to the clarification of thinking about clinical problems. The book falls rather naturally into three distinct sections. Chapters I through IV present a detailed survey of the current functions and problems faced by the working clinical psychologist from a theoretical and technical point of view. The middle section of the book comprises the author's unique contribution, a "social learning theory of personality." The third section of this book, while broadest in scope, is somewhat disappointing. Here Rotter attempts to relate his four classes of variables, the subject's behavior, expectation of reinforcement, the value of external reinforcements, and the psychological situation, to the vast panoply of theoretical approaches, clinical instruments, and psychotherapeutic techniques which are involved in the clinician's functioning. On the whole, then, this book is an impressive achievement. Despite a few shortcomings, there is much to be learned from this book by those who are willing to read it carefully and reflectively. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Lysosomal sequestration of free and esterified cholesterol from oxidized low density lipoprotein in macrophages of different species

Macrophage foam cells of atherosclerotic lesions store lipid in lysosomes and cytoplasmic inclusions. Oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) has been proposed to be the atherogenic particle responsible for the free and esterified cholesterol stores in macrophages. Currently, however, there is a paucity of data showing that oxLDL can induce much cholesterol accumulation in cells. The present studies compare the ability of mildly oxLDL (TBARS = 5 to 10 nmols/mg LDL protein) with acetylated LDL to induce free cholesterol (FC) and esterified cholesterol (EC) accumulation in pigeon, THP-1, and mouse macrophages. Mildly oxLDL stimulated high levels of loading comparable to acLDL where the cellular cholesterol concentrations ranged from 160 to 420 microg/mg cell protein with EC accounting for 52-80% of the cholesterol. Pigeon and THP-1 macrophages stored most (60-90%) of oxLDL cholesterol (both FC and EC) in lysosomes, and the bulk (64-88%) of acLDL cholesterol in cytoplasmic inclusions. Consistent with lysosomal accumulation, cholesterol esterification was 75% less in THP-1 macrophages enriched with oxLDL cholesterol compared with acLDL. Furthermore, addition of an acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase inhibitor did not significantly affect either cholesterol loading or the percent distribution of FC and EC in THP-1 and pigeon cells incubated with oxLDL. Surprisingly, mouse macrophages stored most of oxLDL (71%) and acLDL (83%) cholesterol within cytoplasmic inclusions. Also, in mouse macrophages, esterification paralleled cholesterol loading, and was 3-fold more in oxLDL treated cells compared with acLDL treated cells. Inhibition of ACAT led to a 62% and 90% reduction in the %EC in oxLDL and acLDL treated mouse macrophages, respectively. The results demonstrate that mildly oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) stimulates macrophage foam cell formation and lipid engorgement of lysosomes. However, the fate of oxLDL cholesterol markedly differs in macrophages of different species.     

Synthesis and characterization of a conducting polyfunctional polydiacetylene

The dimer of 1,11-dodecadiyne was synthesized by controlling the kinetics of the Glaser coupling reaction. Preliminary characterization was accomplished using gel permeation chromatography and differential scanning calorimetry. Microscopic single crystals of the dimer, obtained from a hexane solution, were used for diacetylene polymerization by Co⁶⁰γ-irradiation. The corresponding phase transition from dimer to polymerized dimer was studied by electron diffraction. The existence of an intermediate structure over a range of conversion was apparent from these studies. Macroscopic polymerized single crystals were obtained by γ-ray polymerization X-ray structure analysis was accomplished using these crystals. The unit cell was monoclinic, space group P2/n. Nine hundred and twenty six observed data points were used for the refinement. The final residual was 0.08. The refined structure was found to be composed of parallel sheets containing alternating trans polyacetylene and polydiacetylene chains.Conductivity (10^?2ω^?1 cm^?1 at room temperature) was measured as a function of temperature and the resulting activation energy was compared to the band gap calculated by assuming π electron overlap between polyacetylene and polydiacetylene chains.     

Cholinergic mechanisms in startle and prepulse inhibition: Effects of the false cholinergic precursor N-aminodeanol.

Examined the effects of cholinergic deficiency on prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle. Rats treated with a choline-free diet that contained the false cholinergic precursor N-aminodeanol showed great deficit in PPI. This deficit does not appear to be secondary to an increase of stereotyped behaviors. Startle threshold was also greatly reduced, as these rats startled to the 70-dB prepulse, and the baseline startle amplitude was increased by 60% over the control rats. Arecoline (4 mg/kg) partially reversed the deficit in PPI. This improvement persisted beyond the period of drug treatment. On the other hand, scopolamine (1 mg/kg) reduced PPI in the control rats. Results suggest that cholinergic systems play a major role in both the elicitation and prepulse inhibition of startle. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)