Process and outcome research in the treatment of adult victims of childhood sexual abuse: Methodological issues.

Distinguishes between process and outcome research, describes areas within process and outcome research that would be applicable to studying adult survivors of sexual abuse, and identifies methodological issues in these research areas. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Situations and moods associated with smoking in everyday life.

On 4 days, in everyday situations, 21 female and 26 male smokers used an electronic diary to record situations and moods at times of smoking and at control nonsmoking occasions. Self-reports of particular locations, activities, posture, consumption, social context, moods, and internal states were specifically associated with smoking. Real-time assessments in everyday situations provide useful information about the interplay of environmental factors and internal states in smoking. The findings suggest that conditioning and learning processes play a role in smoking and should be considered in smoking cessation programs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Feedback Method of Control for Estuary Management

A feedback method of control has been used to develop a model for optimal determination of freshwater inflow to bays and estuaries. A modification of the feedback method of control was implemented which makes the technique applicable to certain constrained optimal control problems. The modified feedback model for estuary management consists of a hydrodynamic-transport salinity model, HYD-SAL, coupled to a dynamic programming optimization model. The constraints of the model are the monthly freshwater inflows and the salinities. A quadratic criterion representing a weighted sum of squared deviations from target salinity and freshwater level is chosen as the objective function. The constrained optimal control algorithm employs a penalty function that uses a similar quadratic criterion as the objective function. This algorithm has performed efficiently for computing the optimal freshwater inflows into the Lavaca-Tres Palacios Estuary in Texas while satisfying the freshwater requirements for other components in the system.     

Group decision making: How you frame the question determines what you find.

Though not arguing against the practical value of group decision making per se, R. S. Tindale and J. R. Larson (see record 1992-19783-001) used data from computer simulations and an 8-group replication study as a basis for questioning the validity of the findings reported by the present authors (see record 1990-04483-001). The authors show that Tindale and Larson's application of computer simulations is suspect, that the replication-study data is so limited that its significance is questionable, that its operational definition of an assembly bonus effect is restrictive to the point that it has little meaning in real-world settings, and that claims with respect to the performance of ad hoc laboratory groups are inflated and misleading. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Novel catalysts for the ring-opening metathesis polymerization of norbornene-type monomers

A novel family of metallate compounds has been developed for use in catalyst systems for the ring-opening polymerization of dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) and other norbornene-type monomers. Examples of these novel catalyst compounds are the organoammonium isopoly-and heteropolymetallates. Applications of these metallates in combination with alkylaluminum-type reducing cocatalysts are found in the production of both solution polymers, and cross-linked resins from reaction injection molding (RIM). These catalyst systems have significant advantages over prior art catalysts. They are highly soluble in DCPD and other norbornene-type monomers, thus eliminating the need for a reaction solvent. They also are insensitive to air and moisture, have unlimited shelf-life in solution in norbornene-type monomers, and do not function as Lewis acids. The chemistry of these catalyst systems is discussed, along with the benefits they provide to the properties of the final polymer products. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Motion estimation based on multiple local constraints and nonlinear smoothing

A new algorithm for estimating motion from image sequences is presented. Initial motion estimates are determined based on a least-squares solution to a set of independent linear constraints on the motion at a pixel. These initial estimates are then improved by a nonlinear smoothing operation. The results of this algorithm are compared with those obtained by the Horn-Schunck algorithm on a number of image sequences.     

A case study in automated theorem proving: Finding sages in combinatory logic

We present in this article an application of automated theorem proving to a study of a theorem in combinatory logic. The theorem states: the strong fixed point property is satisfied in a system that contains the B and W combinators. The theorem can be stated in terms of Smullyan's forests of birds: a sage exists in a forest that contains a bluebird and a warbler. Proofs of the theorem construct sages from B and W. Prior to the study, one sage, discovered by Statman, was known to exist. During the study, with much assistance from two automated theorem-proving programs, four new sages were discovered. The study was conducted from a syntactic point of view because the authors know very little about combinatory logic. The uses of the automated theorem-proving programs are described in detail.This work was supported by the Applied Mathematical Sciences subprogram of the office of Energy Research, U.S. Department of Energy, under contract W-31-109-Eng-38.     

When amnesic patients perform well on recognition memory tests.

Extended exposure to study material can markedly improve subsequent recognition memory performance in amnesic patients, even the densely amnesic patient H.M. To understand this phenomenon, the severely amnesic patient E.P., 3 other amnesic patients, and controls studied pictorial material and then were given either a yes–no (Experiment 1) or a 2-alternative, forced-choice (Experiment 2) recognition test. The amnesic patients and controls benefited substantially from extended exposure, but patient E.P. consistently performed at chance. Furthermore, confidence ratings corresponded to recognition accuracy. The results do not support the idea that the benefit of extended study time is due to some kind of familiarity process made available through nondeclarative memory. It is likely that amnesic patients benefit from extended study time to the extent that they have residual capacity for declarative memory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dissociations within nondeclarative memory in Huntington's disease.

Patients with Huntington's Disease (HD) were tested on 2 tasks, probabilistic classification learning and artificial grammar learning. Both tasks are performed normally by amnesic patients and are considered to be independent of declarative memory. Patients with HD were severely impaired in probabilistic learning but performed normally in artificial grammar learning. The probabilistic classification task may be akin to habit-learning tasks that depend on the neostriatum, whereas artificial grammar learning may depend on changes within the neocortex similar to what is thought to occur in perceptual priming. The deficit in the probabilistic classification task indicates that impaired nondeclarative learning in patients with HD occurs not only in motor tasks but also in nondeclarative learning tasks that have no motor component. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ultraviolet-curable,abrasion-resistant,and weatherable coatings with improved adhesion

A UV-curable coating for plastics that is abrasion resistant and weatherable is described. The coating consists of colloidal silica functionalized with methacryloxypropyltrimethoxy-silane (MAPTMS) in a matrix of acrylic monomers. The formulation employs diethoxyacetophenone (DEAP) as a photoinitiator and a sulfonated benzotriazole as a UV absorber. It has been found that the adhesion of the coating depends greatly on the type of acrylic monomers used and the application parameters. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis shows that improved adhesion is due to the formation of an interpenetrating layer between coating and substrate.