The inconsistency of consistency effects in reading: The case of Japanese Kanji.

Most Japanese Kanji characters have several different pronunciations, at least one ON-reading (of Chinese origin) and a KUN-reading (of Japanese origin); the appropriate pronunciation is determined by intraword context. There are also Kanji characters that have a single ON-reading and no KUN-reading. With 2-character ON-reading Kanji words as stimuli, naming experiments were carried out to investigate print-to-sound consistency effects. The consistent Kanji words were those in which neither constituent character had an alternative ON-reading or a KUN-reading, hence there can be no pronunciation ambiguity for these words. The inconsistent items were ON-reading words composed of characters that have KUN-readings that are appropriate to other words in which the characters occur, hence there should be some ambiguity about the pronunciation of the constituent characters. Six experiments yielded reliable effects of both word and character frequency and familiarity on speed and accuracy of word naming but virtually no evidence for consistency effects. It was concluded that for Kanji, phonology is dominantly computed at the word rather than at the character level. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Adjustment differences among male substance abusers varying in degree of combat experience in Vietnam.

Tested C. R. Figley's (1978) hypothesis that combat veterans will evidence more indications than will noncombat veterans of such posttraumatic stress reactions as sleep disturbances, emotional numbing, social withdrawal, and difficulties in controlling anger. 87 combat and 120 noncombat veterans seeking treatment for substance abuse were compared on demographic, family, and military variables; ratings on Figley's postmilitary problems list; traditional measures of personality (e.g., the MMPI); and childhood and present family environment scales. In combat–noncombat comparisons, combat Ss rated significantly more stress responses as problems than did noncombat Ss. Support for Figley's hypothesis was even stronger when comparing heavy with light combat-experienced Ss. Results strongly support contentions that stress responses persist long after combat experiences, that a subcategory of stress reactions may exist among some substance abusers, and that more specific and sensitive measures of stress reactions are needed beyond traditional measures of personality and environment. (11 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Studies of immunoglobulins, bentonite flocculation and IgE, IgG and IgM antibodies in serum from patients with trichinosis

Serial serum samples were obtained from two patients from a family of four who ingested raw pork at a known time and in whom trichinosis developed. Single and occasionally two serum samples were obtained from other patients with proved trichinosis. Studies of these serum samples showed that elevations of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels do occur but not in all serum samples and that even when these levels are elevated, they are not high enough to be of diagnostic value. This is also true for serum immunoglobulin M (IgM). Using a solid phase radioimmunoadsorbent test, IgE, IgG and IgM antibodies were detected in the serums. The IgE antibody activity appeared early but was not present in all samples. The IgM antibody activity appeared later than the IgE and IgG antibody activity, and there was a statistically significant correlation between IgM antibodies as determined by radioimmunoassay and the bentonite flocculation titers suggesting that the bentonite flocculation is due to IgM antibody. IgM antibodies detected by radioimmunoassay were positive in all serum samples from patients with trichinosis except for a sample obtained 3 days after the onset of symptoms. The early increase in IgG antibodies and the occurrence of these antibodies in all serum samples obtained more than 3 days after onset of symptoms suggest a potential diagnostic use if serial samples are available early in the course of the disease.     

Frequency-hopped waveform synthesis by using s.a.w. chirp filters

The design and construction of a surface-acoustic-wave (s.a.w.) pseudonoise (p.n.) code controlled frequency-hopping (f.h.) synthesiser for spread-spectrum (s.s.) communication is reported. The prototype synthesiser uses s.a.w. chirp filters with 60 MHz centre frequency, 5 MHz/?s is dispersive slope and 25 MHz bandwidth, and operates in both continuous-wave and f.h. modes. Experimental results show an output centred on 120 MHz, electronically programmable over a 25 MHz bandwidth in 63 discrete hops.     

Body fluid determinations using multiple impedance measurements

It is shown that a significant potential for error exists when a single measurement from wrist to ankle is used to determine body water volume and percentage of body fat, and that by making measurements of multiple regions of the body (arms, legs, and trunk) a more accurate determination can be obtained. This concept is suggested by the results of multiple impedance measurements made on a group of 11 patients undergoing haemodialysis.     

Hypnosis for the treatment of burn pain.

Investigated the clinical utility of hypnosis for controlling pain during wound debridement. 30 hospitalized burn patients and their nurses submitted visual analog scales (VASs) for pain during 2 consecutive daily wound debridements. On the 1st day, patients and nurses submitted baseline VAS ratings. Before the next day's wound debridement, Ss received hypnosis, attention and information, or no treatment. Only hypnotized Ss reported significant pain reductions relative to pretreatment baseline. This result was corroborated by nurse VAS ratings. Findings indicate that hypnosis is a viable adjunct treatment for burn pain. Theoretical and practical implications and future research directions are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The development of a bachelor of engineering program at theNorthern Territory University, Australia

This paper describes the development of a bachelor of engineering (BE) program at the Northern Territory University (NTU), the electrical/electronic stream of which was offered in all four years for the first time in 1993. The development of an overall framework based on perceived worldwide developments in engineering education is discussed, together with the effects of a range of constraints imposed such as the need to maintain feeder arrangements for other disciplines, the size and remoteness of the institution, the expected size of the student body, and the requirements of the national accreditation body, the Institution of Engineers Australia (IEAust). Technical and Further Education (TAFE) in Australia is the national provider of technical and vocational education, and at the NTU teaches apprenticeships and two-year associate diplomas in Engineering. Particular reference is made to the very strong links with TAFE in the presentation of the four-year BE program at the NTU. These links involve common use of laboratories and specialist staff, and address issues of articulation     

Genetic analysis of antibody responses of turkeys to Newcastle disease virus and Pasteurella multocida vaccines

Heritability (h2) of 16-wk BW and primary and secondary antibody responses and genetic and phenotypic correlations among these traits were estimated for 931 male and female turkeys vaccinated with Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and Pasteurella multocida. Turkeys from a line selected for 22 or 23 generations for increased 16-wk BW were vaccinated at 6 and 12 wk of age with blood samples collected 3 wk postvaccination. Antibody titers were determined using an ELISA method and transformed to log(e) for analysis. Heritability estimates for primary and secondary antibody responses to NDV were .380 +/- .070 (SE) and .296 +/- .063, respectively. For primary and secondary antibody responses to P. multocida, h2 estimates were .458 +/- .075 and .333 +/- .066, respectively. Heritability estimate for 16-wk BW was .404 +/- .071. The genetic correlation between primary and secondary antibody responses to NDV was .491 +/- .150. There was no genetic correlation between primary and secondary antibody responses to P. multocida. Although the genetic correlation between primary antibody responses to NDV and P. multocida was .292 +/- .159, the genetic correlation between secondary responses to the two antigens did not differ from zero. There were no genetic correlations between antibody responses and 16-wk BW. Similar results were observed for phenotypic correlations. Based on heritability and genetic correlation estimates, it would be possible to improve antibody responses to either NDV or P. multocida singularly; however, to improve antibody responses to both antigens, selection would have to be applied for each antigen.     

Degree of pore-grain boundary contact during sintering

The stereological method of Aigeltinger and Exner^[5] for quantifying the degree of pore-grain boundary contact by second phases has been modified to correct a bias in the computation of the extended grain boundary area. Reanalysis of the above authors’ data for sintered copper powders using the modified equation shows a degree of contact of 1.8 compared to their earlier value of 2 times the number of pore-grain boundary contacts expected from random intersections. Application of the modified equation to new data for sintered tungsten shows a similar degree of contact of 1.7 throughout all stages of sintering. Formerly Graduate Student, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham. An erratum to this article is available at .     

Acute pancreatitis of unknown etiology in the elderly

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of acute pancreatitis in the elderly patient is increasing, and a significant number of such patients have no clearly defined etiology of their pancreatitis. To delineate the role of early organ failure versus progressive pancreatic disease in the morbidity and mortality, the authors' experience with patients older than 60 years with acute pancreatitis was reviewed. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: As many as 30%-40% of elderly patients with acute pancreatitis have an unclear etiology and such patients have high rates of early organ failure and death. While some authorities have shown that pre-existing disease in these elderly patients did not contribute to subsequent morbidity, others have demonstrated that poor outcome was related to co-existing medical illness. METHODS: Their review of acute pancreatitis in the elderly was grouped into known and unknown etiology patients. Various parameters such as morbidity, mortality and length of stay were then compared between the two groups. Severity of organ failure and acute pancreatitis on admission were both graded and attempts made to correlate this severity with subsequent outcome. RESULTS: Unknown etiology patients had a greater number of Ranson's criteria (3.5 +/- .44 vs. 2.4 +/- .18) (p < 0.02), higher morbidity (48% vs. 22%) (p < 0.05), higher mortality (24% vs. 8.3%), and more SICU days (4.4 +/- 1.3 vs. 1.6 +/- .44) (p < 0.05) when compared with the known etiology group. Duration of symptoms, admission hypotension, and Ranson's criteria were unsuccessful in predicting mortality. Functional status of the various organ systems on admission did predict subsequent mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients with acute pancreatitis of unknown etiology present with a more severe disease, have higher morbidity and longer SICU stays, and appear to have greater compromise of organ function. Organ function compromise correlates with mortality and appears more significant than severity of pancreatic disease. Aggressive support of such organ systems may be beneficial in the management of these patients.