Effects of supportive versus disinterested interviews on perceptual-motor performance in brain-damaged and neurotic patients.

The differential effect of 2 types of interpolated interviews upon the perceptual-motor performance (Stein's Symbol-Gestalt Test) of brain-damaged and neurotic patients was investigated in 2 experiments. Cross-validated results indicate that Ss given disinterested, impersonal, irrelevant information-gathering interviews have a significantly lower rate of improvement over 3 successive administrations of the test than Ss given warm, supportive, anxiety-reducing interviews. Interaction effects were significant in the brain-damaged groups but not in the neurotics. The results support Goldstein's contention that brain damage results in a heightened dependency upon external cues and feedback and emphasize the importance of E variables in the clinical assessment of, and research with, brain-damaged populations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cryogenic random-access memories

Three-wire cryoelectric memory cells and the hybrid AB system organization that utilizes coincident-current selection are examined from the standpoint of batch fabrication requirements, redundancy, electrical parameters, tolerances, and noise immunity. These advances, demonstrated with experimental sub-systems, are described in relation to previous work, and are shown to place cryoelectrics as a strong contender for achieving systems with capacities of more than 108 bits.     

Microprocessor Architecture

This marks the second issue of Computer devoted to the Asilomar Workshop on Microprocessors. As with the first such issue (January 1976), no attempt has been made to cover the workshop in toto (a summary report appeared in the July 1976 Computer). Rather, the goal has been to spotlight a few of the more interesting developments and philosophies that were explored during the April 1976 workshop.     

p+-n-p+ BARITT-diode design

p+-n-p+ BARITT diodes have been designed to give maximum output power at X band frequencies. Computed output power against frequency shows good agreement with measured powers. The dominant effect of the maximum n region electric field on output power is demonstrated.     

Gas absorption accompanied by a large heat effect and volume change in the liquid phase: the system hydrogen chloride/ethylene glycol

Using a predicted value of the liquid phase diffusivity, the Chiang and Toor model is shown to give a good estimate of the measured rate of absorption of hydrogen chloride by ethylene glycol. A liquid surface temperature rise of 20°C is calculated. Unlike the previously tested ammonia-water system, temperature and volume effects do not compensate, and the absorption rate in this system is considerably higher than the isothermal prediction.     

The turnaround on pornography research: Some implications for psychology and women.

Psychologists have recently attacked the US Attorney General's Commission on Pornography. They have argued that its report overgeneralized from available studies on the harmful consequences of pornographic materials and tended to unfairly single out pornographic materials for their potential to contribute to subsequent violence against women. Yet, when the results of available studies, as well as earlier statements of pornography researchers, are examined, the Commission's basic assumptions about pornography as a factor in violence against women appear substantially correct. Some implications are outlined, including the role that social science should play in this issue. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The use of thermal imagery in defining frost prone areas in the Niagara fruit belt

Surface temperatures in the Niagara fruit belt measured with a thermal scanner flown at altitudes of 600 m, 2000 m and 5000 m, were utilized to examine the feasibility of using thermal imagery to define frost prone zones during spring radiation frost conditions. Results show that, within a test area in the vicinity of Vineland, Ontario, as well as for the entire Niagara escarpment area from Grimsby to Niagara Falls, a number of zones of different temperature are defineable. It was found that a potential frost prone zone exists below the escarpment in an area considered to be relatively free of such events.