Linguistic immediacy of schizophrenics in different proxemic conditions.

The linguistic immediacy of 32 schizophrenic and 32 nonschizophrenic psychiatric patients was observed as Ss sat in 1 of 4 proxemic positions during a short interview. Positions varied in terms of distance between patients and interviewer (near vs far) and direction of the interviewer's eye gaze (gazing continuously vs never looking at patients). Results indicate that the immediacy of schizophrenics' verbal communication varies as a function of patient–interviewer distance and orientation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Analysis of lurgi gasification of two U.S. Coals

A mathematical model of moving bed coal gasification is used to determine the performance of two U.S. coals in a pressurized Lurgi gasifier. Air and oxygen blasts are considered.Optimum feed conditions are highly dependent on coal type and oxidant, with high activity Wyoming coal requiring less oxygen and less steam to gasify a given amount of fixed carbon than low activity Illinois coal. The different steam to oxygen ratios for the two coals result in markedly different H₂/CO ratios in the product gas.Optimum operation requires that the combustion zone be maintained at a given distance above the ash grate.Calculations in the neighborhood of the optimum define process variables that can be used to infer deviations from optimum conditions.     

Plasmas in space

Although 95 percent of the universe is made up of ionized gases or plasma, and although most plasmas exist in magnetic fields, the problem of the behavior of these gases in magnetic fields is a relatively new field of scientific investigation. This article reviews the new findings and speculations on solar dynamics, and concentrates especially on the interactions of the solar wind with the magnetosphere of our earth. Out of the combined efforts of astronomers, physicists, engineers, and geophysicists, a picture of plasmic-magnetic interaction is beginning to emerge.     

Spinocerebellar ataxia and HLA linkage: risk prediction by HLA typing

To determine the possibility of genetic linkage of spinocerebellar ataxia with the histocompatibility loci, we performed HLA typing and linkage analysis on 19 members of a kindred in which spinocerebellar ataxia was segregating in an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. The ataxia locus was located on chromosome 6 at 12-cM distance from the HLA complex with lod score of 3.15 (odds is greater than 1400:1 favoring linkage over chance findings). Thus, the presence of the ataxia gene in members of this kindred at risk can be predicted with about 90 per cent accuracy by means of HLA typing in informative matings.     

The Innovation of Service-Life Effectiveness

Technical innovation in this age of integrated electronics may be viewed as three interrelated ``people processes,' each aimed at either improving cost, performance, or reliability?three criteria of system effectiveness that allow choice and evaluation of alternate solutions to a problem. These tradeoffs must be chosen on the basis of an overall criterion of system effectiveness, such as service, to be measured by performance per total annual dollar of expense. Materials, devices, and systems are the specialist levels of innovation in integrated electronics. Each level performs four basic functions including 1) formulation of requirements on the entity as a whole, 2) establishment, by analysis, of a design theory based on a hypothesized model, 3) exploration of methods for fabricating structures to meet specified requirements, and 4) development of test methods to measure the actual functions produced. These functions must be iterated for performance, cost, and reliability. When cost and reliability are added to performance as equally important requirements, design, reliability, and manufacturing people all must influence tradeoff decisions. This complexity is illustrated by examining, on only the devices level, the kinds of information that must be generated and combined in the three iterations for performance, cost, and reliability. (A discussion of the development of semiconductor devices for the Telstar? satellite further illustrates some of these points.) It is concluded that the virtue of developing a well-ordered structure for such a complex innovation process lies in calling for the right kinds of information at the right time, and identifying missing knowledge.     

The effects of two experimental counseling techniques on performances impaired by induced stress.

60 of a group of 90 undergraduate students were placed in an experimentally induced stress situation by implying that the Rorschach that these students had taken earlier indicated possible maladjustive features. A test battery consisting of the TAT, Wisconsin Card-Sorting Test, Mirror tracing and an attitude scale showed that the stress group tended to be more impaired in performance. The stress group was then divided into 4 subgroups for the experimental conditions, reassurance-interpretation, catharsis-reflection, talk, and rest. At the conclusion of the experimental counseling, the test battery was administered to all subjects. The counseled groups combined showed consistent, although not always significant, improvement in performance on the posttest measures compared with the noncounseled groups combined. There was no indication that either of the two counseling techniques was more effective in improving performance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Concentration oscillations of carbon monoxide,oxygen and 1-butene over a platinum supported catalyst

The effect of a wide range of experimental parameters on the sinusoidal and multiple spike oscillations observed during the oxidation of mixture of carbon monoxide and 1-butene over platinum supported on γ-alumina has been investigated in a CSTR. An elementary step model, where the rate constants are assumed independent of surface coverages, is found to be able to account largely for the observed oscillatory phenomena. The carbon monoxide and oxygen adsorption and desorption rate constant values in the model have been evaluated by fitting experimental transients, while 1-butene parameter values were obtained from stability conditions. Rate constant values and operating conditions have a profound effect on the observed and predicted oscillations. A parameter of great importance is the ratio of the number of adsorption sites to reactor volume.