Multisite microprobes for neural recordings

Multisite, passive microprobes have been developed to allow simultaneous recording of action potential activity from multiple neurons at different locations in the brain. The microprobes were fabricated using standard integrated circuit techniques. The probe is a planar structure that consists of gold electrodes sandwiched between two polyimide dielectric layers and bonded to a molybdenum structural support. Windows in the top dielectric layer expose the electrode sites and bonding pads. In two distinct versions of the probe four or six recordings sites, respectively, of approximately 25 microns 2 are arranged on a dagger-shaped structure which can penetrate the pia. The bonding pads and interconnect wires at the probe head are entirely encapsulated in a tubular fixture that is packed with silicone RTV and sealed with epoxy to protect the interconnections from contact with body fluids. The site impedances at 1 kHz are typically between 2 and 4 M omega. Probe lifetimes for continuous immersion in physiological saline solution, as measured by impedance, have exceeded 750 h. The failure mechanism is believed to be due to moisture and ion absorption in the top dielectric layer. In acute neurophysiological experiments using the four site probes, action potential activity was recorded from physiologically identified neurons in the dorsal column nuclei of anesthetized rat.     

Changes in self-concepts during group psychotherapy as a function of alternate sessions and vicarious therapy pretraining in institutionalized mental patients and juvenile delinquents.

Attempted to evaluate the effects of alternate sessions and vicarious therapy pretraining (VTP) in connection with time-limited group psychotherapy in 4 groups each of institutionalized juvenile delinquents and hospitalized mental patients. Ss were administered self- and ideal-self-concept Q sorts pre- and posttherapy. It was found that: (1) the use of alternate sessions did not facilitate improvement in self- and ideal-self-concepts, but effected negative changes in self-concept as contrasted with a standard expert ideal sort; (2) the use of VTP appears to have had a positive effect on change in ideal-self-concept in the direction of what experts regard as ideal; (3) there were no differential effects of VTP and alternate sessions in the 2 populations under study; and (4) mean changes in self-concept measures from pre- to posttherapy were in a positive direction for the mental patients and in a negative direction for the juvenile delinquents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of rater level of functioning and experience upon the discrimination of facilitative conditions.

Analyzed the ratings of 80 Ss, at 4 different levels of experience, at each of 2 levels of facilitative interpersonal functioning (moderately high and low). Both level of functioning and experience were found to have significant effects on accuracy of ratings, with level of functioning a more critical index of ability to discriminate levels of facilitative conditions. (20 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Corrosion sensors for concrete bridges

Corrosion of rebar in concrete bridges is a problem for the infrastructure and is difficult to detect. Engineers and scientists at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) have developed a device that is designed to be buried in the concrete when the bridge deck is poured. The device, known as a wireless embeddable sensor platform/smart aggregate (WESP/SA), can provide data about conditions within the bridge deck. This data will assist highway maintenance engineers in determining corrosive actions.     

Experimental manipulation of therapeutic conditions.

The authors explore the heretofore vague "something more" attributed to the therapeutic relationship by experimentally demonstrating the effect of just 2 almost universally posited therapist-offered conditions which make for a "meaningful" interpersonal relationship, warmth and empathic understanding, upon 1 critical aspect of patient behavior in therapy, patient intrapersonal exploration. The authors characterize the therapeutic relationship as a stimulus complex within which the relearning process takes place most deeply and most efficaciously. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Instantaneous measurement of the internal temperature in lithium-ion rechargeable cells

We demonstrate, in three different rechargeable lithium-ion cells, the existence of an intrinsic relationship between a cell's internal temperature and a readily measurable electrical parameter, namely the phase shift between an applied sinusoidal current and the resulting voltage. The temperature range examined spanned from −20 to 66 °C. The optimum single frequency for the phase measurement is in the 40–100 Hz range, allowing for a measurement time of much less than a second; the phase shift in this range depends predominantly on temperature, and is almost completely independent of the state-of-charge. Literature reports suggest that the observed dependence of the phase shift on temperature arises from the ionic conduction of the so-called solid-electrolyte-interphase layer between the graphite anode and the electrolyte. A meter measuring the phase shift across this interphase is analogous to a thermometer reporting the temperature, thereby providing feedback for rapid corrections of any operating conditions that might lead to the catastrophic destruction of the cell. This level of monitoring and control is distinctly different from the present safety-enabling mechanisms: typically positive thermal coefficient ceramics/plastics, or “shutdown” separators based on polyethylene that act to often permanently shut down current flow through the cell.     

Lay mental health counseling: The effects of lay group counseling.

8 therapeutic groups of 10 hospitalized mental patients each were seen twice a wk. for a total of 24 sessions by 5 trained lay hospital personnel. 70 patients served as controls. The lay personnel, primarily attendants, had been trained by an approach integrating the didactic approach which emphasizes the shaping of therapist behavior with the experiential approach which focuses upon therapist development and "growth." Heavy training emphasis was placed upon research scales assessing process variables, which had been predictive of positive patient outcome, rather than any particular theoretical orientation. At the end of the 3-mo period, significant improvement was noted in the ward behavior of the treatment group when compared to the control group. (19 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Training in counseling and psychotherapy: An evaluation of an integrated didactic and experiential approach.

An approach to training in counseling and psychotherapy integrating the didactic-intellectual approach which emphasizes the shaping of therapist behavior with the experiential approach which focuses upon therapist development and growth was successfully implemented with both a group of graduate students in clinical psychology and a group of lay hospital personnel, including 3 attendants, a volunteer worker, and an industrial therapist. The program relied heavily upon scales which in previous and extensive research had been predictive of positive patient outcome in estimating levels of therapist empathy, positive regard, and congruence and patient depth of self-exploration. It was found that the trainees could be brought to function at levels of effective therapy quite commensurate to those of more experienced therapists in less than 100 hours of training. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Catheter-tracking FOV MR fluoroscopy

Recent improvements in intravascular magnetic resonance imaging techniques mandate an accurate method of monitoring the introduction of MR catheter probes into the vessel of interest. For this purpose, a novel imaging protocol and a display method have been designed. First, a roadmap 3D image data set with standard pulse sequences is obtained using an external imaging coil. Subsequently, using very narrow rectangular-FOV fast-spoiled gradient recalled (SPGR), a movie of the percutaneous placement procedure of an MR catheter probe is acquired at a rate of 7.3 frames/second. In this protocol, the probe is used to transmit RF pulses and receive MR signal. A computer program was written for image unwrapping and for displaying the unwrapped movie frames on the roadmap image. In an alternative protocol, the movie frames in two projection angles were acquired in an interleaved fashion. Frames were unwrapped and combined with a 3D roadmap and displayed on a Silicon Graphics workstation equipped with stereovision goggles. Using these methods, percutaneous catheter placement in a phantom and a dog was examined. In conclusion, a new visualization technique for MR catheter placement is proposed. Combining this technique with high resolution intravascular MRI techniques may result in a very useful diagnostic tool for the evaluation of atherosclerosis and other vessel diseases.     

A criticism of Rosenzweig's Babel.

Comments on the article "Operation Babel: A survey of the effectiveness of the foreign language requirements for the PhD degree in psychology" by S. Rosenzweig et al (Amer. Psychologist, 1962, 17, 237-243; see record 1963-04105-001). While interesting and stimulating to the amphitheater spectator, the aforementioned article was not a complete success. The current authors believe that the data collected by Rosenzweig do not lead to his conclusions. If his data are to support his philosophy, then another exploratory operation is deemed advisable. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)