bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Revising and Validating the Random Search Model for Competitive Search
Authors: Chan Alan H. S. , Courtney Alan J.
Published: August 2011

A random search model was fit to a total of 2592 visual search times on a single-target detection task. By using a competing homogeneous background and uniform stimulus material, specifying viewing distance, controlling the presentation of search task material, and eliminating some options for extreme search strategies, very high correlation coefficients were found when a random search model was fit to both the individual data and to pooled data. A response time parameter was incorporated into the traditional random-search model and very good predictions of search performance were obtained.
Heights of U.S. Presidents: A Trend Analysis for 1948–1996
Authors: Young Thomas J. , French Laurence A.
Published: August 2011

A Mann Trend Test yielded a trend in increased height for 10 U.S. Presidents from 1948–1996, consistent with previous findings that height is a heuristic for dominance.
Effects of Melatonin in Two Individuals with Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Jean-Louis Girardin , Zizi Ferdinand , Von Gizycki Hans , Taub Harvey
Published: August 2011

Dementia has been associated with circadian rhythm disturbances expressed in several dimensions including body temperature, hormonal concentrations, sleep and wakefulness patterns, and rest-activity cycles. These disturbances may be the result of a dampening in the amplitude of the circadian rhythm. One of the symptoms associated with the aging process has been a decline in the amplitude of the melatonin rhythm. Here, the results of melatonin administration to two patients with Alzheimer's disease are presented. Melatonin administration enhanced and stabilized the circadian rest-activity rhythm in one of the patients along with some reduction of daytime sleepiness and an improvement in mood. The other patient, who was characterized by less cognitive impairment, showed no significant changes associated with melatonin ingestion. Interestingly, the acrophase of rest-activity was delayed for about one hour in both patients. These results suggest that melatonin may have beneficial effects in some patients with Alzheimer's disease
Threshold Effect in Visual Perception of Geometrical Figures
Authors: Di Maio Vito
Published: August 2011

Filtering of the input image has been shown to play a central role in several aspects of visual perception. In our experiments in visual perception of the area of geometrical figures the orientation in random dot patterns, and some visual illusions, we have shown that a threshold effect inferred from the filtering of the input image produces a perceptual error. This error has been explained by using the concept of Image Function. The present paper is a brief review of our experimental results and of the models we have proposed.
Potential for Learning as An Antecedent Variable in Pascual-Leone's Theory of Constructive Operators
Authors: Niaz Mansoor
Published: August 2011

Empirical evidence is provided to show that potential for learning can predict and explain academic performance. Postulating potential for learning as an antecedent variable in Pascual-Leone's Theory of Constructive Operators, facilitates the integration of developmental and learning factors in cognitive theories.
Assessing Behavioural and Cognitive Impairment in Dementia Using an Informant's Report: Evidence from the Camdex Interview
Authors: Cipolli Carlo , Bolzani Roberto , Pinelli Marina , Neri Mirco
Published: August 2011

The consistency of measures from informants' report and from objective testing, both incorporated into the CAMDEX interview, was tested for elderly persons with mild dementia ( n = 46), with moderate dementia ( n=41), and without cognitive impairment (controls, n = 56). Informants' reports permitted grading severity of dementia and provided measures of memory and mental functioning in everyday activities highly related to indices derived from objective testing.
Effects of Mood on Color Perception as a Function of Dimensions of Valence and Arousal
Authors: Ziems David , Christman Stephen
Published: August 2011

Effect of observers' emotional state on color discrimination was examined. Observers in happy ( n = 18) versus sad ( n = 18) emotional states, as induced by Eich and Metcalfe's 1989 procedure, were faster at discriminating high versus low arousal colors, respectively. Emotional state of observers had no effect on processing colors differing in valence.
Influence of Female Body Images in Printed Advertising on Self-Ratings of Physical Attractiveness by Adolescent Girls
Authors: Crouch Alanda , Degelman Douglas
Published: August 2011

In contrast to earlier studies suggesting that self-concept is stable by late adolescence and therefore resistant to change, this study found that adolescent girls' ratings of self-attractiveness were significantly higher following exposure to printed advertisements employing attractive models who were overweight compared to those exposed to models who were not overweight. Implications for further research are discussed.
Balance Retraining in a Hemiparetic Patient Using Center of Gravity Biofeedback: A Single-Case Study
Authors: Simmons Roger W. , Smith Kristin , Erez Eytan , Burke James P. , Pozos Robert E.
Published: August 2011

A single-subject experimental design was used to evaluate the effects of center of gravity biofeedback on retraining balance control in a 72-yr.-old male hemiparetic patient. For both assessment and training the subject stood on dual force-plates enclosed on three sides by a visual surround. A 4-wk. training period consisted of subject-initiated shifts in body weight to control movement of a real-time computer display of the subject's center of gravity. A Sensory Organization Test and evaluation of weight distribution indicated that biofeedback retraining positively affected balance control during dynamic conditions and when the ground support moved forward.
Relation of Low and Moderate Intensity Exercise with Acute Mood Change in College Joggers
Authors: Berger Bonnie G. , Owen David R.
Published: August 2011

This study investigated a possible relationship between exercise intensity and mood alteration that commonly is associated with physical activity. 91 college students completed the Profile of Mood States before and after 20 min. of jogging at three intensities: 55%, 75%, and 79% of age-adjusted maximum heart rate on different occasions. Exercisers also completed a demographic inventory, a Lie Scale, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Contrary to our expectations, the interaction between exercise intensity and pre-post mood benefits was not significant. Supporting the manipulation of exercise intensity, the univariate interaction between exercise intensity and pre-post exercise scores on Fatigue was significant. Joggers reported short-term mood benefits on the combined subscales of the Profile of Mood States, and each subscale contributed to the benefits. Thus, regardless of the low- or moderate-intensity, participants reported that they “felt better” after exercising.
Reversibility of Reversible Chinese Words
Authors: Yang Mu-Jang
Published: August 2011

Reversible Chinese words are words which can be read either from left to right or vice versa. The reversibility of reversible two-character Chinese words for 101 women and 73 men, native speakers of Chinese, was estimated.
Orientation of Selective Effects of Body Tilt on Visually Induced Perception of Self-Motion
Authors: Nakamura Shinji , Shimojo Shinsuke
Published: August 2011

We examined the effect of body posture upon visually induced perception of self-motion (vection) with various angles of observer's tilt. The experiment indicated that the tilted body of observer could enhance perceived strength of vertical vection, while there was no effect of body tilt on horizontal vection. This result suggests that there is an interaction between the effects of visual and vestibular information on perception of self-motion.
A Control Question Test Oriented towards Students
Authors: Bradley M. T. , Black M. E.
Published: August 2011

Control Question Tests were altered for 12 of 24 students who were examined with a polygraph about a mock crime which half of them had committed. The altered tests substituted control questions about students' cheating and plagiarism for the standard questions about crime issues. Responses to the altered tests were compared with those from tests using regular control questions which are usually about criminal issues. All tests were conducted by a professor. Detection scores derived from response magnitudes of skin resistance differed between innocent ( M = 2.0) and guilty participants ( M = −1.9). Guilt and innocence interacted with the type of test. Those examined with control questions oriented towards students scored as more innocent when actually innocent ( M = 4.3) than guilty students examined with the student form ( M = −3.0) or the crime form ( M = −0.8) of the test and innocent students ( M = −0.3) examined with control questions oriented towards crimes. The discussion is augmented by results from a direct analysis of magnitude of scores.
Decreased Use of Hearing Aids following Training in Hearing Tactics
Authors: Andersson Gerhard
Published: August 2011

In this report data on hearing aid use were combined from three randomized controlled studies on behavioural hearing tactics. Daily average hearing aid use at pretreatment and posttreatment were analysed for 63 older hearing-impaired persons who had either received treatment or acted as controls. Analysis showed a significant, albeit weak, decrease in daily hearing aid use for those subjects who had received the treatment. The utility of amount of hearing aid use as an indicator of rehabilitation success is discussed.
Mental Walking through a Complex Maze Influences Lateralized Ultradian Rhythms
Authors: Meier-Koll Alfred , Albrecht Ulla , Neuschwander Dirk
Published: August 2011

Subjects of two experimental groups, 10 males and 10 females in each group, explored artificial environments represented by compact city mazes. The mazes, a simple and a complex one, were generated by means of a computer program. After turning the program on, a scene with houses, streets, and alleys appeared on a TV screen. The subjects sat in front of the screen and manoeuvered through the simple or the complex maze with the help of a hand-operated device. Correspondingly the street scenes changed in such a way that the subject had the illusion of a normal pace. Each subject explored one maze for eight hours. Every 15 min. an experimenter interrupted the subject's walk and measured tactile discrimination in either hand. Ultradian periodic variations in the tactile error rate of the right and left hands with periods of 2 or 3 hours are found. They are considered manifestations of endogenous rhythms operating separately in the left and right cerebral hemispheres. As demonstrated in a previous paper, lateralized ultradian rhythms in tactile discrimination are different for males and females when tested under quiet laboratory conditions. The present paper shows that the rhythms are specifically influenced in both sexes by the spatial complexity of an artificial environment (maze). These findings are discussed from an evolutionary point of view.
Modern Number Magic: Choosing One's Wedding Date
Authors: Brugger Peter , Regard Marianne
Published: August 2011

Dates with same-digits (1/1/11, 2/2/22, etc.) offer the rare opportunity to study people's reactions to the conspicuousness of repetition. Anecdotal evidence suggests that such dates are considered special and preferably selected for celebrations of various kinds. This note compares the number of civil ceremonies at Zurich, Switzerland, on four different dates. On both 7/7/77 (a Thursday) and 8/8/88 (a Monday) there were significantly more ceremonies than on two respective control dates which contain two differing digits (Monday, 8/8/77 and Thursday, 7/7/88). Suggestions for prospective research on September 9, 1999 are given.
A Specific Shifting Deficit in Parkinson's Disease: A Reversal Shift of Consistent Stimulus-Response Mappings
Authors: Hsieh Shulan , Chuang Ya-Yun , Hwang Wen-Juh , Pai Ming-Chi
Published: August 2011

Two experiments were designed to investigate effects of cueing upon aptitude for shifting by patients with Parkinson's disease. Subjects executed in alternation two different components of a task set over successive items in a list. We compared the costs of shifting when the stimulus ensemble remained constant from trial to trial (“uniform” lists), with the case in which a change of stimulus ensemble cued each shift of task (“mixed” lists). Shift costs with mixed lists were significantly smaller than those with uniform lists (Exp. 1, ns=12). This suggests that patients with Parkinson's disease can benefit from cues about the stimulus ensemble in performing tasks. Patients' shifting performance was different from that of controls only in a reversalshift condition of the previously consistent stimulus-response mappings (Exp. 2, ns = 12). This result suggests that patients with Parkinson's disease suffer from a specific but not a general deficit in ability to shift.
Distortion of Body Image among Elite Female Dancers
Authors: Pierce Edgar F. , Daleng Myra L.
Published: August 2011

To examine body image and possible distortion of body image among elite female dancers 10 members of a professional ballet company rated both current and ideal body shape. In addition, an objective measure of body composition was obtained via skinfold techniques, t tests indicated that the mean rating for current body image was significantly higher than the rating for ideal, despite the fact that body-composition measures for all subjects were in an “ideal” range according to normative standards. Analysis indicated a high distortion of body image among these dancers and support psychophysiological concerns previously raised.
An Informal Look at Use of Bakery Department Tongs and Tissues
Authors: Trinkaus John
Published: August 2011

Of 108 people observed extracting for purchase rolls or pastries from displayed bulk stock in food supermarket bakery departments, about 90% used their hands for item selection and withdrawal radier than the store provided tongs. In stores where tissues were provided instead of tongs, approximately 60% of the 133 people who were observed used their hands.
Efficacy Outcome and Sex Difference in Learning of Hypermedia Programming Skills
Authors: Tam Sing-Fai
Published: August 2011

86 occupational therapy students participated in a 20-hr. training course in hypermedia programming for selecting functions for development of rehabilitation software. Analyses showed that the training program significantly enhanced their self-efficacy in development of software for clinical practice. The students generally showed a positive attitude towards the feasibility and significance of applying hypermedia programming in occupational therapy, but no significant sex difference in programming self-efficacy was found.
Cultural Factors in Exercise Participation of Older Adults
Authors: Kirkby Robert J. , Kolt Gregory S. , Habel Kathleen
Published: August 2011

Participation motives were investigated in 81 Australian-born and 42 overseas-born older Australians ( M age = 67.8 yr.) involved in community-organised exercise programs. Australians born overseas scored significantly higher on factors of Affiliation/Personal, Recognition/Achievement, and Exercise Involvement of the Participation Motivation Questionnaire but not on Fitness.
Listeners Can Discriminate among Major Chord Positions
Authors: Hubbard Timothy L.
Published: August 2011

Listeners judged whether two sequentially presented major chords were the same. When both chords were based on the same root, Listeners discriminated between different chord positions, e.g., root position, first inversion, second inversion. The ability of listeners to discriminate between chord positions suggests that harmonic equivalence of different chord positions does not depend on perceptual equivalence and instead arises from a more cognitive representation.
Connectionist Investigations of Individual Differences in Stroop Performance
Authors: Phaf R. Hans , Christoffels Ingrid K. , Waldorp Lourens J. , den Dulk Paul
Published: August 2011

A simple connectionist model for the Stroop task was implemented to investigate a defective inhibition hypothesis first postulated by Fox in 1994 for individuals of high anxiety. Simulations with this model indicated that Stroop interference was positively, instead of negatively, related to inhibition. An alternative excitation hypothesis assuming that high anxiety corresponds to stronger verbal connections to the distracting material could also be investigated in the model. Stronger verbal connections indeed corresponded to larger interference. It is argued that this type of simulation could be useful, not because it proves in any way the supposed mechanisms, but because it clarifies the relation between theory and empirical data and so stimulates further specification of theoretical assumptions and invites empirical research into these assumptions.
Negative Aging Stereotypes and the Agentic-Communal Dichotomy
Authors: Hale Natalie M. , Hewitt Jay
Published: August 2011

Prior research has documented negative aging stereotypes. Our hypothesis is that these only apply when a certain dimension of traits is employed and when older persons occupy certain roles. 42 college students were asked to rate the extent to which each of several “agentic” traits, e.g., active, aggressive, independent, and “communal” traits, e.g., understanding, warm, helpful, characterized a roommate and college professor, both of whom were stated to be either 23 or 65 years of age. For the roommate (but not the professor), the young person was seen as more agentic than the older person. No differences were found on the dimension of communality. It was concluded that young college students may attribute negative behaviors to older persons but this is more likely when the negative behaviors are agentic in nature and the older person occupies certain roles such as “retired person.”
Are Phonemes Mastered Early More Likely to Be Used in Highly Imaged as Opposed to Abstract Nouns? A Test of Predictions Based on Jakobson's Theory
Authors: Whissell Cynthia
Published: August 2011

As predicted on the basis of the developmental linguistic theory of Roman Jakobson, the proportional use of categories of phonemes which are mastered by children at an early age, for example, back vowels, bilabial consonants, stop consonants, was weakly and positively correlated with people's ratings of the tendency of nouns to create “clear mental images” for them. The proportional use of categories mastered later, for example, front vowels, lax vowels, sibilants, was weakly and negatively correlated with imagery. Predictions of word emotionality based on the same theory were not confirmed.
Sources and Magnitude of Perceived Psychological Stress in High School Volleyball Officials
Authors: Stewart Michael J. , Ellery Peter J.
Published: August 2011

Research has indicated that sporting officials experience perceived psychological stress from a variety of sources. The reported magnitude of that stress has been mixed depending on the sport. The present study examined the sources and magnitude of perceived psychological stress among 353 American high school volleyball officials in a midwestern state. Principal component analysis witih varimax rotation identified four factors: fear of failure, time pressure, interpersonal conflict, and fear of physical harm. 57% of the officials reported “none” or “very little” stress associated with volleyball officiating. Recommendations for further research are discussed.
Psychomotor Speed in Chronic Low-Back Pain Patients and Healthy Controls: Construct Validity and Clinical Significance of the Measure
Authors: Luoto Satu , Alaranta Hannu , Taimela Simo , Hurri Heikki
Published: August 2011

The effect of ethanol on reaction times was studied in 5 healthy men to test the construct validity of the measure. Reaction times were studied among 61 healthy controls and 99 patients with chronic low-back pain (68 moderate and 31 severe) to evaluate the diagnostic value of reaction time measurements. Analysis of receiver operating characteristics was used to calculate the discriminative power of the reaction time measurements. The severity of low-back pain was associated with slow reaction times but the diagnostic value of a single reaction time measurement was low due to insufficient sensitivity. In conclusion, even though many patients with low-back pain suffer from central impairment of motor function, a single reaction time measurement is not usable in evaluation of the severity of low-back pain.
A Comment on Women's Speech and its Synthesis
Authors: Whiteside S. P.
Published: August 2011

A brief update of sex differences in voice characteristics points to the style and linguistic convention in residual differences after processes of normalisation in phonetic studies and phonetic realizations in read speech as these affect speech synthesis.
A Quantitative Model for Designing Keyboard Layout
Authors: Shieh Kong-King , Lin Chin-Chiuan
Published: August 2011

This study analyzed the quantitative relationship between keytapping times and ergonomic principles in typewriting skills. Keytapping times and key-operating characteristics of a female subject typing on the Qwerty and Dvorak keyboards for six weeks each were collected and analyzed. The results showed that characteristics of the typed material and the movements of hands and fingers were significantly related to keytapping times. The most significant factors affecting keytapping times were association frequency between letters, consecutive use of the same hand or finger, and the finger used. A regression equation for relating keytapping times to ergonomic principles was fitted to the data. Finally, a protocol for design of computerized keyboard layout based on the regression equation was proposed.
Evolutionary-Derived Anatomical Characteristics and Universal Attractiveness
Authors: Magro Albert M.
Published: August 2011

Hominid fossils illustrate how modern humans have evolved anatomically. Included in the fossils are traits no longer phenotypically prevalent in humans (primitive) and phenotypic traits that have become increasingly prevalent (derived). In this study, published paleontological information about the anatomical evolution of humans was used to create line drawings of human form. Survey data were accumulated by having 759 individuals evaluate more than 40 anatomical traits. Each anatomical trait was presented as a panel of three line drawings intended to express the trait in a primitive, intermediate, and derived form. For each panel of three drawings, subjects were instructed to select the drawing they considered most attractive and then select the drawing they considered least attractive. The survey data indicate that males and females of diverse ages, races, cultures, and from varied geographical regions show commonality in their judgements of beauty of human form. The individuals surveyed appeared to have a strong aversion to primitive traits, preferring proportions and characteristics that are intermediate or more derived. In many instances, the evaluators preferred drawings that were exaggeratedly derived. The data may have relevance to the ongoing debate of whether averageness or atypicality is the essence of human beauty. Also, there was high agreement in judging the attractiveness of shapes and proportions in line drawings that were not immediately recognized to be representations of human form. These data could indicate that our general aesthetic sense for art, architecture, and fashion may be based on a subliminal reference to derived anatomical shapes and proportions. Over-all, the data support the hypothesis that derived traits that are universally shared by anatomically modern humans may be the standard for our innate sense of beauty of human form.
Hegemonic Power and Canadian Corporate Executives' Compensation
Authors: Sharma Basu
Published: August 2011

Using stock ownership and stock options as indices of CEO hegemonic power, this study examined their effects on the growth of 37 Canadian corporate executives' compensation in 1995–96. While options granted for exercise did not show any significant influence, stock ownership showed a significant negative influence on the growth of executive compensation.
Aerobic Fitness of Tasmanian Secondary School Children Using the 20-M Shuttle Run Test
Authors: Cooley Dean , McNaughton Lars
Published: August 2011

The aim of this study was to determine the aerobic fitness of Tasmanian secondary school children aged 11 to 16 years. A random sample of Tasmanian secondary schools was undertaken and then all children within each grade in the school were tested. In all, 6061 children undertook the test, 2981 boys and 3080 girls. The test consisted of a 20-m shuttle run in time to a prerecorded timing sequence. Each child had to complete as many shuttles as possible while staying in time with the beep. The test ceased for each child when they could no longer reach the marker at the same time or prior to the generated sound. The analyses indicated that there was a significant main effect of grade and sex. Children in lower grades completed fewer shuttles than the children in higher grades, and boys completed more shuttles than girls within each grade. Students in government-run schools completed significantly fewer shuttles than their nongovernment school counterparts ( p<.0001). On a regional basis, there were no differences between children in the north and south of Tasmania as each completed 5.7 ± 0.1 shuttles but children in the northwestern region of the state completed a significantly greater number of shuttles. An estimation of mean V̇O2max based upon shuttle stages completed indicated that these values ranged from a low of 40.6 ml · kg−1 · min.−1 in 13-, 14-, and 15-yr.-old girls to a high of 50.4 ml · kg−1 · min.−1 in 16-yr.-old boys. Comparisons between this and similar data suggest that Tasmanian school children are less fit than their counterparts around the world. In conclusion, normative data for Tasmanian school children were developed and distributed to schools throughout Tasmania for use by teachers in evaluating the fitness of their students.
Qualitative Description of the Prevalence and Use of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids by United States Powerlifters
Authors: Curry Lewis A. , Wagman Daniel F.
Published: August 2011

Powerlifters have been suspected to be a population wherein use of anabolic androgenic steroids is prevalent (Yesalis, Herrick, & Buckley, 1988) To access commentary from these athletes on issues related to these drugs and the effectiveness of doping controls, a survey was developed. From 28 U.S. Powerlifting Team members who competed internationally since 1988, 26 were contacted by mail, and 15 questionnaires were returned. The questionnaire solicited yes/no responses and qualitative descriptions about current and previous use of anabolic androgenic steroids in powerlifting. Analysis indicated that ten U.S. Powerlifting Team members admitted to using these drugs, and five athletes admitted to beating the International Olympic Committee's doping control procedures. Reported use of anabolic androgenic steroids by these athletes was consistent with data presented by Yesalis, et al. and illustrated continued discrepancy between admitted use of these drugs prior to or during national and international events and the lack of reported positive test data. Discussion focused on the value of this study to elicit in an athlete's own words commentary specific to the use of anabolic androgenic steroids and the need for more effective doping controls.
Time Perspective and Sleep Problems
Authors: Vranesh Jon G. , Madrid Gilbert , Bautista Jose , Ching Patrick , Hicks Robert A.
Published: August 2011

In this study of 137 university students, we examined the relationships among the five dimensions of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory and three scales that measure aspects of sleep problems. All of the Zimbardo Inventory dimensions correlated significantly with each of the sleep problem-related scales. These data suggest that concern about time, regardless of the specific nature of individuals' time perspective, and certain sleep problems are significantly related.
Correlations among Scores on Measures of Field Dependence-Independence Cognitive Style, Cognitive Ability, and Sustained Attention
Authors: Amador-Campos Juan Antonio , Kirchner-Nebot Teresa
Published: August 2011

The Children's Embedded Figures Test, the Rod and Frame Test to measure the field dependence-independence cognitive style, Cattell's Culture Fair Intelligence Tests to measure cognitive ability, and two cancellation tasks (Zazzo task and Bourdon task) to assess sustained attention were administered to 179 boys and 110 girls whose average age was 9.0 yr. Correlations between scores on measures of field dependence-independence and cognitive ability were moderated. Average correlations between scores on measures of field dependence-independence, cognitive ability, and measures of sustained attention was .23 for the Zazzo task and quite weak (.06) for the Bourdon task.
Ethnicity and Bruxism
Authors: Hicks Robert A. , Lucero-Gorman Kristy , Bautista Jose , Hicks Gregory J.
Published: August 2011

Distributions of students of four ethnic groups were statistically significantly different. 106 African-American students reported the lowest incidence of self-reported bruxism (9.4%), 452 Asian students the highest incidence (24.6%); 312 Euro-American and 225 Hispanic students' incidence was intermediate.
Comparison of Magnitude Estimation and Interval Scaling of Loudness
Authors: McColl Douglas , Fucci Donald
Published: August 2011

To identify whether equal-appearing interval or magnitude estimation scaling resulted in a data set with a closer correlation to the physical stimuli involved 20 young adults completing two tasks. In Task 1 subjects used a 7-point equal-appearing interval loudness of 18 10-sec. samples of babble speech, presented randomly at intensities of 5 to 90 dB SPL. In Task 2 subjects used magnitude estimation scaling to rate these stimuli, presented in a randomized order. Analysis showed significantly high correlations for both scaling methods and the stimuli (Spearman rho= 1.00 and .99, respectively). Subjects can use either form of scaling to rate changes in loudness.
Effects of Goal Setting on Physiological Response and Performance: Comment on Theodorakis, Laparidis, Kioumourtzoglou, and Goudas
Authors: Gellatly Ian R.
Published: August 2011

Care must be taken to isolate the effects of goal setting on chosen criterion measures and to clarify the concept of energy mobilization.
Note on Malik and Paraherakis's (1998) Commentary regarding the Encoding Capacity of the Cognitive Unconscious
Authors: Fudin Robert , Lembessis Elizabeth
Published: August 2011

Contrary to Malik and Paraherakis's 1998 assessment, Greenwald and Liu's results support a cognitive unconscious with a limited encoding capacity, but findings from subliminal psychodynamic activation cannot be used to estimate that capacity because they are ambiguous. Although empirical evidence supports the idea of a cognitive unconscious that is limited to encoding the meanings of single words, we endorse Malik and Paraherakis's implication that a more precise estimate of the capacity of the cognitive unconscious requires the execution of many more experiments with multiword stimuli.
Acetaminophen Effects on Behavioral Thermoregulation in Albino Rats
Authors: Vitulli William F. , Kaiser Gayle A. , Maranto Debra L. , Blake S. Elizabeth , Storey Tanya M. , McPherson Kathy P. , Luper Stephanie L.
Published: August 2011

Acetaminophen (N-Acetyl-p-aminophenol) was administered intra-peritoneally to 15 Sprague-Dawley rats partitioned into 3 studies (5 rats per study) using a within-subjects, repeated-measures reversal design. Behavioral thermoregulation was assessed in a cold Skinner Box using 5-sec. exposures of microwave radiation [Specific Absorption Rate = 0.34 Watts/kg/(mW/cm2)] as reinforcing stimuli under a fixed-interval 2-min. schedule of positive reinforcement. Doses of 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 mg/kg (in solutions of 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5%) acetaminophen showed stable rates of operant responding for heat compared with significant changes in rates for comparable doses of aspirin in a 1993 study by Vitulli, et al. Weight reductions and temperature increases varied significantly with before-session and after-session measures, respectively. 1994–95 biochemical data of Murphy, et al. from humans following aspirin or acetaminophen ingestion which affect thermoregulation and sleep patterns are discussed in conjunction with behavioral data from rats.
Influence of Music on Wingate Anaerobic Test Performance
Authors: Pujol Thomas J. , Langenfeld Mark E.
Published: August 2011

While several studies have investigated the effects of music on cardiovascular endurance performance and perceived exertion during exercise of moderate intensity, few studies have investigated such effects on supramaximal exercise bouts. The purpose of the present study was to assess whether music affects performance on the Wingate Anaerobic Test. Each of the 12 men and 3 women were required to report to the laboratory on two occasions, once for tests in the music condition and once for tests in the nonmusic condition. Conditions were randomly ordered. All music selections were set at the same tempo. On each test day subjects performed a series of three Wingate Anaerobic Tests with 30-sec. rests in between. On Test 3 subjects were asked to continue pedaling until fatigued. Mean Power Output, Maximum Power Output, Minimum Power Output, and Fatigue Index were compared between conditions for each test using a repeated-measures analysis of variance. Time to fatigue on Trial 3 compared by analysis of variance gave no significant differences between conditions for any measures.
Precompetition Anxiety in Chinese Athletes
Authors: Kirkby Robert J. , Liu J.
Published: August 2011

Precompetition anxiety and self-confidence were investigated in a sample of 132 male and 103 female Shanghai college athletes. The participants were administered the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 of Martens, et al. 30 to 40 min. before competing in important track and field events or basketball games. Analysis by independent t tests showed that there were no sex differences in scores on the Cognitive Anxiety, Somatic Anxiety, or Self-confidence subscales; however, compared to those in team sports (basketball), athletes competing individually (track and field) scored significantly higher on the Somatic Anxiety subscale and significantly lower on the Self-confidence subscale. Comparisons with data from comparable North American samples indicated that Chinese athletes reported lower scores on Cognitive Anxiety and Somatic Anxiety but similar scores on Self-confidence.
Prediction of Outcome in Transsexualism by Means of the Defense Mechanism Test and Multivariate Modeling: A Pilot Study
Authors: Sundbom Elisabet , Bodlund Owe
Published: August 2011

To elaborate the predictive value of the projective method using the Defense Mechanism Test in a 5-yr. follow-up study of 16 transsexuals, all subjects were approved for sex reassignment surgery and had completed the baseline assessments and the 5-yr. follow-up evaluation. Furthermore, we intended to create an outcome model based on the test data for prior patients wherein new consecutive applicants for sex change could be tested to predict the outcome in individual cases. Outcomes after five years showed that 62% of the transsexuals were judged as improved in a variety of areas of psychosocial functioning, 19% were unchanged, and 19% were worsened. Firstly, the analysis of the test data confirmed differences between the improved transsexuals and those who were not. Secondly, sex differences were found, with female-to-male transsexuals having a better outcome and being more homogeneous than their male counterparts. Thirdly, there was good correspondence in prediction of outcome between the model based on the Defense Mechanism Test and a clinical judgment made by a psychiatrist for two new applicants for sex reassignment surgery. It appears the Defense Mechanism Test has a predictive ability for patients with gender-identity disorder.
Criterion-Related Validity of Sit-and-Reach Tests in University Men in Hong Kong
Authors: Chung Pak-Kwong , Yuen Chun-Kau
Published: August 2011

To examine the criterion-related validity of traditional, modified, and YMCA sit-and-reach tests and the relationships of these with abdominal muscular strength and endurance measured by the sit-up test, 52 university men of mean age 20.7 yr. were administered two trials of six measurements in counterbalanced order, including traditional, modified, and YMCA sit-and-reach tests, passive straight-leg raise, low-back flexibility evaluation, and 1-min. sit-up test. Pearson product-moment correlations were significant ( p<.05) for traditional and modified sit-and-reach tests with hamstrings' flexibility ( rs = .71 and .77, respectively). Also, the YMCA sit-and-reach test was significantly associated with hamstrings' flexibility ( r = .64) and low-back flexibility ( r = .47). Stepwise multiple regression indicated hamstrings' flexibility was the only significant predictor of traditional and modified sit-and-reach tests, explaining the variances of 59.1% and 49.8%, respectively. However, both hamstring and low-back flexibility were significant predictors for the YMCA sit-and-reach test, which in total accounted for 52.2% of explained variance. Traditional and modified sit-and-reach tests are valid in assessing hamstrings' flexibility only, whereas the YMCA sit-and-reach test is valid for measuring both the hamstring and low-back flexibility.
Test-Retest Reliability of the Hurlbert Index of Sexual Assertiveness
Authors: Pierce Aaron Paul , Hurlbert Melissa K.
Published: August 2011

This study investigated the test-retest stability of the Hurlbert Index of Sexual Assertiveness. 54 nonclinical and 46 clinical subjects were administered the Index on two occasions 4 wk. apart. Test-retest correlation coefficients were calculated separately and together. The results evidenced high test-retest reliability. Correlation coefficients were .88 for nonclinical subjects and .83 for clinical subjects with an over-all test-retest reliability of .85 for all 100 subjects.
Love Attitudes and Romantic Involvement: A Replication and Extension
Authors: Erwin Philip G.
Published: August 2011

Confirming Hendrick and Hendrick's (1988) findings with American college students, British students reporting they were currently “in love” scored significantly higher on the Love Attitude Scale dimensions of Eros and Agape but significantly lower on Ludus when compared to subjects not currently in love.
Lack of Effects of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids on Locomotor Activity in Intact Male Mice
Authors: Salvador A. , Moya-Albiol L. , Martínez-Sanchis S. , Simón V. M.
Published: August 2011

Anabolic-androgenic steroid abusers have reported hyperactivity euphoria, and decreased fatigue, among other behavioral effects. It has been suggested that the effects of these substances on the central nervous system are similar to those of psychostimulants; however, the influence of steroids on general locomotor activity in laboratory animals is not well understood, especially how noncastrated male rodents are affected. In this study, spontaneous locomotor activity displayed by gonadally intact male mice submitted to several experimental conditions was analyzed. Different housing conditions (individual or cohabiting with a female), diverse steroids (testosterone propionate, nandrolone decanoate, and a mixture of both steroids) and single or repeated injections were employed. At 24 hours after the injection (after the three last injections in the case of chronic treatment) spontaneous locomotor activity was registered on an activity recorder for one 15-min. period. No effects due to the treatment were found in almost every experimental condition. These results contrast with the dramatic decreases in activity described for female mice after treatment with such steroids. It seems that in intact males the steroids' influence on spontaneous locomotor activity may be more subtle than expected. These effects seem very complex, depending on duration of treatment and specific situations (spontaneous or forced activity) as well as the interaction with endogenous androgen levels.
Meta-Analysis of Research on a Multimedia Elementary School Curriculum Using Personal and Video-Game Computers
Authors: Blanchard Jay , Stock William , Marshall James
Published: August 2011

This meta-analysis summarizes research studies of evaluations of a technology-based curriculum of the Lightspan Partnership. The curriculum presents for elementary schools multimedia reading, language arts, and mathematics content on CD disks that utilize personal and video-game computers. The game-like curriculum is appropriate for home or school use. The 10 studies included in this research synthesis had (a) experimental and control groups, (b) 2,760 students with complete testing information, and (c) varying demographic attributes. There were significant effects for the program in several domains of curriculum.
Some Conjectures about Random Numbers
Authors: Ginsburg N. , Lesner C.
Published: August 2011

Incompressibility is rejected as a necessary condition for randomness of a digit sequence. Tests for the sequence itself are suggested rather than the process by which it is generated. This leads to the conjecture of an infinite number of compressible random sequences.
Linguistic Complexity of Abstracts and Titles in Highly Cited Journals
Authors: Whissell Cynthia
Published: August 2011

The linguistic style and emotional tone of thousands of tides and abstracts was analyzed for articles appearing in psychology Journals ranked among the top 5% of all cited Journals in the social sciences for 1995. Citation status was predicted by several measures of linguistic complexity: punctuation in the title, use of rare words, and sentence length. Abstracts from the top 5% group as a whole were also characterized by complexity: abstractness, low use of functional words, use of rare words, and sentence length. Categories of Journals differed in emotional tone in a manner consistent with their contents, suggesting different emotional experiences for readers. The process of abstracting is described as one involving a tradeoff between accuracy or depth of communication and clarity or breadth, with breadth being especially important in an era in which electronic methods of dissemination put abstracts within the reach of an increasingly larger group of researchers.
Neuropsychology of Swedenborg's Visions
Authors: Bradford David T.
Published: August 2011

In 1744, the 56-yr.-old scientist Emanuel Swedenborg underwent a transformative event that could be characterized as convulsive. He subsequently became a visionary and spent the remaining 28 years of his life exploring the spirit world and describing his experiences in an extensive corpus of writings. Retrospective analysis of his visions and trance states indicates signs and symptoms consistent with a vascular anomaly in the posterior area of the left cerebral hemisphere and associated effects due to partial seizures with complex symptomatology. Swedenborg's writings have formed the basis of a church that remains active to this day. His visionary experiences can be interpreted as an instance of neuropsychological symptomatology, under the shaping influence of a powerful intellect, contributing to the formation of an historically significant religious movement. The term neuropathography is proposed for a new genre of neuropsychological case study in which the emphasis on brain-related symptomatology is balanced by attention to autobiographical and broad cultural factors.
Analysis of Humor in the 1992 Presidential Debates
Authors: Crawford C. B.
Published: August 2011

Analysis of the 1992 Presidential debates showed significant differences between candidates across all debates. There was also a difference in the incidence of humor among the three debates. It was noted that the effects of a third party candidate and alternative debate formats need further research.
Loudness in Listening to Music with Portable Headphone Stereos
Authors: Kageyama Takayuki
Published: August 2011

The usual listening levels of music (loudness) using portable headphone stereos were measured for 46 young volunteers. Loudness was associated with sex, Extraversion scores, a subjective mental health state, and impression of the music.
A Developmental Study of Handedness in down Syndrome Pupils
Authors: Vlachos Filippos M. , Karapetsas Anargyros B.
Published: August 2011

Assessed hand preference in 7- to 9-yr.-old and 13- to 15-yr.-old pupils with Down syndrome ( n = 41) was compared with control schoolchildren ( n = 50) of the same ages. A significant increase in left-handedness and mixed-handedness was noted in Down syndrome groups compared with the normal population. Younger Down syndrome pupils were less consistent in their hand preference than the older pupils and the normal controls.
Procedure to Extract a Weekly Pattern of Performance of Human Reaction Time
Authors: Beau Jacques , Carlier Michele , Duyme Michel , Capron Christiane , Perez-Diaz Fernando
Published: August 2011

A study of reaction time in six tests (speed of simple identification, simultaneous and sequential letter identification, simultaneous and sequential stimulus word matching, and semantic verification) was carried out on 130 children aged 7 to 12 years. Subjects were tested Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, using a cross-sectional design. The answers to each of the tests are binary in nature (Yes/No) measured by the recording of a click on one of the two buttons of a microcomputer. Controlled variables were age, failure, sex, and day of test. The greatest percentage of the variance produced by the data was due to the age (typically 25%). The percentage attributable to the “day of test” (typically 5%) is hence masked by the variance due to the other factors. The method proposed herein makes it possible to isolate the percentage of the variance for the variable “day of test” alone and to provide evidence for a circaseptan effect on reaction time. It used a regressive correction on predominant variables. This effect shows performance is best on Thursday and weakest on Monday, the amplitude of the weekly rhythm being related to the task.
Part 1 Behavioral Science Scores: After a Summer Psychiatric Research Clerkship: Failure to Replicate
Authors: Holmes George R. , Thornhill J. T.
Published: August 2011

The present study did not replicate Holmes,' et al.'s (1987) findings that medical students who participated in a summer psychiatric research clerkship scored statistically significantly higher than matched controls on the Behavioral Science portion of the National Board of Medical Examiners' Part I Exam. Group ns in this replication were 39 each.