Determination of Mean Cluster Sizes by Fluorescence Detection upon Site-Specific Photoexcitation.

Electronic excitations in the valence shell of Ne clusters were studied by fluorescence spectroscopy. The measured fluorescence excitation functions contain information about the nature and number of excitonic states and the mean cluster size of the produced size distribution. Mean cluster sizes were determined by comparing surface and bulk contributions using a multidimensional fitting algorithm, with good agreement to commonly used scaling laws. The influence of different size distributions, which were not considered in previous investigations, on homogeneous noble gas cluster jets is implemented in the proposed model. The present work is the first approach using fluorescence spectroscopy for the determination of the mean size of Ne cluster jets created by supersonic expansion.

Left hemispheric overactivation in schizophrenia: relationship to clockwise circling.

Schizophrenic patients, nonschizophrenic patients, and nonpsychiatric controls were compared in their demonstration of clockwise circling (CC), and in lateral eye movement responses to verbal and spatial questions. Only schizophrenic subjects who did not evidence CC showed inappropriate left hemisphere arousal to spatial stimuli. A tendency was noted for CC to occur more frequently among paranoid than nonparanoid schizophrenics. The results, taken together with other recent findings, suggest that the absence of CC may correlate with a more severe form of schizophrenia, and one more likely to be characterized by overarousal of the left cerebral hemisphere.

Human-companion animal relationships and animal behavior problems.

The compatibility of the social systems of humans and companion animals has facilitated the formation of a unique interspecific relationship. Some of the most common behavior problems that people have with their pets are a result of the type of relationship that has formed between them. In most cases, neither pet nor owner is exhibiting abnormal behavior; rather, they are demonstrating normal species-typical behaviors that are unacceptable to the other species.

Parenting the child with a chronic condition: an emotional experience.

A description of the typical emotional reactions experienced by parents of children with chronic conditions is presented. Nursing strategies are given to facilitate parental adjustment to the child's condition. An emphasis is made on the normalization of experiencing intense emotions. Also addressed are the presentations of problematic parental reactions to the child's diagnosis requiring referral to mental health professionals.