Predicting phobics' response to therapy: A consideration of subjective, physiological, and behavioural measures.

Attempts to relate general client characteristics to individual differences in response to behavioral treatment of phobic disorders that have had a long history but have produced mixed results. Most efforts have not included consideration of the 3-systems model of fear and its utility in defining response patterns that may be used to predict individual differences in response to various treatments. Recent studies that have implications for this approach are reviewed. Methodological factors involved in the measurement of each of the systems are discussed, and suggestions for more detailed assessments in the behavioral and cognitive/subjective systems are presented. (French abstract) (50 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Antiferromagnetism in the semiconducting lanthanide cuprates Ln2CuO4

The semiconducting lanthanide cuprates Pr₂CuO₄, Nd₂CuO₄, and Gd₂CuO₄ have been investigated using X-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility, and electron paramagnetic resonance techniques. The susceptibility and resonance studies indicate that the Cu²⁺ ions are ordered antiferromagnetically and that the exchange interactions involving the Ln³⁺ ions are relatively weak. The deviations from the Curie-Weiss law in Pr₂CuO₄ and Nd₂CuO₄ are in qualitative agreement with the predicted behavior for isolated Ln³⁺ ions under the influence of a crystal field. Hence these compounds provide interesting examples of planar Cu²⁺-ion antiferromagnets.     

Effect of perilymphatic fistulas on evoked otoacoustic emissions in the guinea pig

Round window perilymphatic fistulas were surgically created in 20 guinea pigs. Distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) at 2fl - f2 were recorded prior to and immediately following laceration of the round window. The stimuli were equal level sinusoids (f1 < f2) with f2 ranging from 2 to 10 kHz, a fixed f2:f1 ratio of 1.25, and stimulus levels (L2 = L1) ranging from 20 to 80 dB SPL. After an 18-day survival period, emission measurements were repeated, and fluorescein was infused into the cerebrospinal fluid to verify patency or closure of the fistula. Nine animals demonstrated patent fistulas, whereas 11 had closed fistulas. There was a statistically significant reduction in DPOAE amplitude after an acute fistula across all stimulus levels (p < .001). At 18 days the DPOAE amplitudes in animals with healed fistulas could not be differentiated from controls, whereas DPOAE amplitudes in animals with patent fistulas were statistically different from controls (p < .05). The results suggest that evoked otoacoustic emissions may be useful in detecting perilymphatic fistulas.     

Solar-energy stimulated,open-looped thermosyphonic air heaters

The behaviours of solar-energy collectors for use in a thermosyphon air-heating system are discussed. Almost identical instantaneous collector efficiencies are achieved by collectors whose base surfaces (which are orthogonal to the direct insolation) have fins which run parallel with, or perpendicular to, the mean convecting air flow direction in the collector. Those surfaces with fins perpendicular to the flow are shown to have longer thermal response periods to changes in insolation than surfaces with fins parallel to the air stream. The latter arrangement exhibited an almost equal response period to that achieved by a plane surface.     

Parental expressed emotion and affective style in an adolescent sample at risk for schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Investigated the correspondence between interview-assessed parental emotional attitudes toward a particular offspring (expressed emotion; EE) and parental affective behavior manifested in direct family interactions for 52 14–19 yr old disturbed but nonpsychotic adolescents. Individual parents who expressed an excessive number of critical comments during the interview (high EE) manifested significantly more mild and harsh criticisms in direct interactions with their offspring than did low-EE parents. A more complex relationship emerged between attitudes and behavior when both parents' emotional attitudes were considered simultaneously. When both parents were high EE, they expressed high levels of mild and harsh criticisms in direct interactions with their offspring. Parental affective behavior in families with only 1 high-EE parent was characterized by high levels of mild criticisms but low levels of harsh criticisms. When both parents were low EE, they manifested few mild or harsh criticisms in direct interactions. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

TWINAN90: a FORTRAN program for conducting ANOVA-based and likelihood-based analyses of twin data.

We discuss the program, TWINAN90, which can perform several different types of analysis of twin data. TWINAN90 incorporates the ANOVA-based twin analyses from the TWINAN twin analysis program, and also includes maximum likelihood estimation of parameters from three path models. Another feature of TWINAN90 is the optional output of a pedigree file which can be read by the quantitative genetics package FISHER. The diagnostic features of the program make TWINAN90 useful also for preliminary analyses prior to the use of more sophisticated modeling procedures which are available in packages such as LISREL and FISHER. An annotated printout from TWINAN90 is presented to illustrate the statistical analyses performed in the program.