Development of a new evacuation method for emergencies: Control of collective behavior by emergent small groups.

A new evacuation method for emergencies, the Follow Me method, in which each leader takes only one evacuee to an exit without gesturing or loudly directing many evacuees toward the exit, was compared, in two field experiments, with a traditional method, the Follow Directions method, in which each leader indicates the direction with a loud voice and vigorous gestures. Results showed that the Follow Me method was more effective when the leader-to-evacuee ratio was relatively small, such as 1:4, and less effective when the ratio was large, such as 1:8. Effective evacuation by the Follow Me method was shown to be caused by the drawing power of emergent small groups. Generating from around a leader, other evacuees rapidly formed a collective stream toward the exit. Small groups can be used as a lever in moving a larger collectivity in an emergency, as well as in activating a large formal organization. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Modifying carbonization properties of pitches. 1. Conversion of benzene-insoluble matter of coal-tar pitch into graphitizable carbon

Reactivities of benzene-insoluble/quinoline-soluble matter (QS—BI) and quinoline insolubles (QI) of coal-tar pitch in reductive alkylation and hydrogenation with the aid of alkali metals were investigated, to obtain basic information on the possibility of changing their graphitizability and the orientation of their cokes. Alkylation increased the solubility in benzene of both components; however only the soluble fraction of QS—BI was fusible. In contrast, the soluble fractions produced by hydrogenation from both QS—BI and QI were fusible giving a flow-pattern structure and graphitizable carbon. Fusibility of pitches in the early stage of carbonization is discussed from the viewpoints of graphitization and orientation of cokes obtained by subsequent heat treatment.