Self-awareness and self-confrontation: effects of self-focused attention on members of a clinical population.

Research in the area of self-awareness theory has indicated that self-focused attention consistently produces both an increase in perceived intensity of affect and enhanced accuracy of self-reports. The present studies consider these effects in relation to the technique of self-confrontation as used in psychotherapy. In the first study, members of two different clinical populations (alcoholics and general psychiatric patients) either were or were not made self-aware and then were asked to self-report on their psychiatric problems and their mood states. Results indicated that self-awareness did increase the negative mood states for the psychiatric patients, and it also apparently increased the accuracy with which both patient groups reported on their history of hospitalization. In the second study self-awareness once again exacerbated the reported negative affect of a group of depressed psychiatric patients and enhanced the accuracy with which they reported on their hospitalizations. Additional analyses indicated that although the psychiatric patients generally felt worse when self-aware, they were also more accurate in their self-reports, including descriptions of their problems. The effects of self-awareness on members of clinical population are discussed and related to self-confrontation techniques.

Effects of calorizations and repeated unidirectional angular accelerations on the nystagmus of unilaterally labyrinthectomized cats.

Right unilateral labyrinthectomy of cats resulted in a left-beating, spontaneous nystagmus that was still weakly present in most animals when recorded in darkness 2 months after surgery. Cats given cold calorizations of the non-operated ear during the month following surgery showed no differences in behavior, optokinetic nystagmus, spontaneous nystagmus, or rotation-induced nystagmus when compared with operated cats which received no caloric stimulation. All operated cats showed a reduction in optokinetic responses that was more marked to CCW stimulus and that persisted through the second month after surgery. Most nystagmic responses to angular accelerations were bidirectionally diminished by more than 50%, 1 month after surgery. A series of 15 unidirectional habituation trials was ineffective in producing a directional imbalance in the nystagmic responses of operated cats, but the series was effective with non-operated Control animals. It appears that an intact vestibular system may be necessary for directionally specific habituation effects to evidence themselves. One month after the habituation series, all operated cats showed improved nystagmic output while Control cats showed a trend toward equalization of responses for the two directions.

The effect of a purified water-soluble fraction of a Fusarium roseum 'Graminearum' culture on reproduction of white Leghorn females.

White Leghorn females (36 weeks old) in egg production were individually fed a purified water-soluble fraction residue remaining from the water extract and a crude culture of Fusarium roseum 'Graminearium'. Each fraction was fed at 3% of the diet for 6 weeks followed by 2 weeks with a control diet. Hens were inseminated weekly with .05 ml of pooled semen from males given control diets. The purified water-soluble fraction increased feed consumption during the test periods. During the posttest period, hens fed test diets consumed less feed than those fed a control diet. All test diets did not affect body weight change during the test periods. There was a significant increase in body weight of hens on the diet containing 3% crude culture and a marked decrease in body weight of hens fed the purified water-soluble fraction during the posttest period. Egg production and egg weight were not affected by treatments during the test and posttest periods. Fertility was reduced by the crude culture of F. roseum 'Graminearum' during the 6-week test. Hatchability of fertile eggs was significantly reduced by the purified water-soluble fraction and the crude culture of F. roseum 'Graminearum'. Hatchability rapidly increased when these toxic diets were replaced with control diets. The majority of embryo mortality occurred during 5 days of incubation. The major mycotoxins responsible for reduced hatchability of fertile eggs appeared to be water soluble components of F. roseum 'Graminearum' and not trichothecenes or zearalenone.

A comparison of some effects of three antimotion sickness drugs on nystagmic responses to angular accelerations and to optokinetic stimuli.

While the basic efficacy of antimotion sickness drugs is rooted in the reduction of motion sickness symptoms, adverse side effects are important practical considerations of their usage in aviation. This study examined the influence of three established antimotion sickness drugs on nystagmic eye movement responses to angular acceleration (whole-body movement) with vision either permitted or denied, and to optokinetic stimulation (visual field movement). Dimenhydrinate and promethazine hydrochloride, particularly at higher dose levels, reduced optokinetic nystagmus, thereby making less accurate the following ability of the eye. During whole-body motion in darkness, there was little placebo-drug difference in the vestibular response under alert conditions; under relaxed conditions, dimenhydrinate and promethazine hydrochloride produced significant declines in the vestibular eye movements. These same drugs also interfered with the ability of the individual to fixate adequately on a visual task during motion. Subjects who received a combination of promethazine plus d-amphetamine were able to suppress vestibular eye movements and maintain good visual fixation under the task condition. Thus, the effect of a drug on nystagmus may be a poor indicator of its value in preventing motion sickness. Moreover, assessments of antimotion sickness drugs for many practical situations should include, as a possible adverse side effect, the inability to maintain visual fixation during motion.

Relationships of anxiety scores to screening and training status of air traffic controllers.

The present study assessed the relationship between anxiety, as measured by the State-Trait Personality Inventory (STPI), and success of post-strike air traffic control specialist (ATCS) trainees at the FAA Academy and during field training. The STPI was administered to students who entered the FAA Academy between June 1984 and September 1985. Academy test scores were obtained for 1,790 students in the en route option. Criterion data included the field training status of the Academy graduates as of July 1988. Statistical analyses determined the relationships between ATCS student scores on the STPI measures and a) normative data and b) Academy screening and field training results. ATCS students reported significantly lower state (current level) and trait (proneness) levels of anxiety than did either college students or military recruits. Trainees who had relatively high scores (for ATCSs) on a combined index of the trait and state measures of anxiety exhibited significantly higher a) percentages of Academy failures/withdrawals, b) percentages of option switches in the field, and c) overall field attrition, than did trainees with low scores. Results support the operation of some personality-related self-selection among ATCS applicants regarding anxiety and the importance of this low anxiety characteristic for ATCS job success.

Effects of some motion sickness suppressants on static and dynamic tracking performance.

Two studies examined the influence of three established antimotion sickness drugs on tracking performance in static (stationary) and dynamic (angular acceleration) conditions and on visual fixation ability during motion. In Study I, 40 young men were randomly assigned in equal numbers to either a control (lactose placebo), dimenhydrinate (50 mg), promethazine hydrochloride (25 mg), or mixture (25 mg promethazine plus 10 mg d-amphetamine) group. Study II used 30 new subjects equally divided into control, dimenhydrinate (100 mg), and promethazine (50 mg) groups. Following practice, tests were conducted prior to, and 1, 2, and 4 h after drug ingestion. The depressant drugs had little effect on static tracking, but impaired dynamic tracking performance and reduced ability to maintain visual fixation on a localizer/glide slope instrument due to increased ocular nystagmus. The mixture of promethazine plus d-amphetamine produced none of these deleterious effects.

Effects of D-amphetamine and of secobarbital on optokinetic and rotation-induced nystagmus.

Although vestibular nystagmus is known to be affected by variations in mental states, little information is available about the effects of drugs on vestibular responses when a) subjects are either alert or relaxed, and b) visual stimuli are available or denied. In this study, 30 men were assigned to d-amphetamine sulphage (10 mg), secobarbital sodium (100 mg), or placebo (no drug) groups. With subjects alert in darkness, the drugs had no differential effect on rotation-induced vestibular nystagmus; when subjects were relaxed there was significantly less nystagmus than in the alert condition, particularly for the seco-barbital group. With vision permitted, d-amphetamine had no statistically different effect on nystagmus from the placebo. However, subjects given secobarbital were unable to use visual fixation effectively to suppress vestibular eye movements and their visual-following ability as measured by optokinetic nystagmus was also suppressed. Control over the mental activity of subjects and assessment of oculomotor-related functions both with and without opportunities for visual fixation are both important in evaluating drug effects.

Some effects of alcohol on various aspects of oculomotor control.

Recent studies have shown that alcohol interferes with visual control of vestibular nystagmus. The present study was designed to assess three partially independent systems of oculomotor control. Performance on three tasks was measured before and after mild alcohol dosage. One task involved visual suppression of vestibular nystagmus; a second involved smooth oculomotor tracking of a moving target; and a third required repetitive rapid voluntary shifts in gaze. Oculomotor control was degraded on the first two tasks with recovery toward the initial performance level 4 h after drinking. Performance on the third task was not obviously degraded, although it is possible that improvement with practice was retarded. Results are discussed in terms of neurological systems involved and kinds of flight tasks potentially affected.

An echelle spectrometer-spectrograph for astronomical use.

A compact echelle spectrometer-spectrograph has been designed for use at the Cassegrain focus of the University of Wisconsin 91-cm telescope at Pine Bluff. Laboratory results obtained with this instrument show that it has great potential for both stellar and nebular studies. Typical photographs and photoelectric scans of laboratory spectra are shown. A method of determining the profile of the echelle blaze is discussed. The instrument has high dispersion, 2.5 A/mm at 5000 A with a camera focal length of 0.5 m, and a spectral purity of 1.25 A/mm of entrance slit.

Scanning spectrometer of the gillieson type.

A new type of plane grating monochromator has been devised in which the grating is illuminated by convergent light. The main feature of this design is an arrangement by which the grating is simultaneously translated and rotated by means of a simple rotation about an axis displaced from the grating face. The motion is such that the spectrum remains in good focus on a fixed exit slit over a range of wavelengths from zero order to 5000 A in the third order for a grating with 600 lines/mm. This type of mount has the advantages of small aberrations and small astigmatism over the usable range. Because there are only two reflections, the instrument is best suited for studying problems where low light level might be of concern, such as for astronomical work or for use in the far ultraviolet.

All-reflecting Baker-Schmidt flat-field telescopes.

The theory of the Baker-Schmidt flat-field telescope with tilted reflecting corrector and an analysis of the performance of several different all-reflecting Baker-Schmidt systems is presented. A comparison is given between the performance of a flat-field Baker-Schmidt and an all-reflecting Schmidt telescope of similar focal ratio.

A comparison of MMPI two-point codes in four alcoholism treatment facilities.

Compared the frequency of two-point MMPI codes in four different alcoholism treatment facilities. Even though some differences were noted in terms of the different code types, the comparisons were more indicative of the similarity between treatment facilities. The 2-4/4-2 code type occurred most frequently in all of the treatment settings, yet it accounted for only 12--21% of the profiles in any facility. The implication of these findings for describing the "alcoholic" personality and for individualized treatment planning was discussed.

Echelle efficiencies: theory and experiment.

Comparisons of theoretical calculations and experimental measurements of echelle grating-efficiencies are given for R2 echelles used in three possible configurations: alpha > beta;alpha < beta and the quasi-Littrow mode. The throughput-resolution products for these various cases are also compared.

"Trade-off" between medical cost controls and quality of care? Maybe, maybe not! Part II.

In Part I of this article, published in the last issue of the JQA (February/March 1990, Vol. 12, No. 1), Majors Varney and Schroeder reviewed the issues surrounding the impact of the Medicare prospective pricing system (PPS). After defining "quality health care" and discussing indicators of quality, the authors presented several arguments by anti-cost containment advocates. In Part II, research is presented on the effects of cost containment on access to health care, substance abuse programs, improved care, severity indexing, alternative care, and utilization review programs.