Showing papers by "University of Nebraska Omaha published in 1971"

Reinforcement procedures in the control of encopresis: a case study.

Abstract: A student and his problems were pin-pointed, recorded, and changed. The first 3 wk. were used to establish a base rate. S defecated in class, once every few days. After he was programmed with reinforcers (charting and coupons toward book purchases), he may have had one accident, only, for the remainder of the school year (8 wk.). Follow-up through the seventh month of the next school year (the time of this writing) indicates one accident only. During this 7-mo. period, he was not programmed with book coupons or any other specific reinforcer. He had internalized a previous external model of control.

Application of the Method of Lattice Statics to Carbon Interstitials in α -Iron

Abstract: The method of lattice statics has been applied to determine the strain-field displacements about single octahedral and tetrahedral carbon interstitials in $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-iron as well as the strain-field interaction energies between pairs of octahedral interstitials. A comparison of the exact lattice-statics displacements to the corresponding results of an asymptotic lattice-statics calculation indicates that elasticity theory is not valid closer than $25a$ from the octahedral interstitial in either the [100] or [011] direction in the lattice, where $a$ is half of a cubic unit-cell side. The lattice-statics displacements have also been compared to analogous results obtained from a direct-space calculation, and some differences between the two sets of results are apparent. Relaxation energies have been calculated for the two types of carbon interstitial, and the octahedral configuration is found to be the more stable of the two. Assuming the tetrahedral configuration to be the saddle point for interstitial migration, the migration energy is found to be 0.27 eV.

Defects in the experimental design of radioisotopic studies on the insect nerve cord

Abstract: 1. Defects in the experimental design of previous radioisotopic studies on insect nerve cords were revealed by the present investigation with 22Na and 86Rb on nerve cords of adult female Carausius morosus and adult male Periplaneta americana. 2. Studies with 22Na on nerve cords of C. morosus and P. americana reveal more than six efflux components when efflux periods of 26 hr are used (Fig. 1, 4, 6, 7). When efflux periods of approximately 10 min are used, as was done by previous investigators, only two efflux components are found (Fig. 3, 5). 3. Similar studies with 86Rb on nerve cords of P. americana also reveal more than six efflux components when efflux periods of 28 hr are used (Fig. 8). With an efflux period of 10 min, only two components are found (Fig. 9). 4. Decreasing the efflux period from 26 hr to 8 or 10 min also alters the half-times (and consequently the rate constants) of the remaining components (Tables 2 and 3). 5. It was concluded that previous studies revealed only two or three components because efflux periods were too short and too few samples were taken in the early phase of the efflux period to demonstrate all components. Furthermore, the so-called first “component” or fastest “component” is really two or more subcomponents, but resolution of these subcomponents is hindered by the difficulty of taking accurate samples in time periods of less than 5 sec. 6. Histological studies reveal that the fat body constitutes 22.0±3.0% of the nerve cord volume in adult male P. americana of average body weight. It was suggested that such a large anatomical compartment is likely to be the source of one or more efflux components in radioisotopic studies on the nerve cord.

Relationships among Wechsler adult intelligence scale, Goodenough-Harris, and Peabody picture vocabulary tests with institutionalized retarded adults.

Abstract: Summary.-Test data for 150 adult institutionalized retardates were subjected to a two-factor analysis of variance with repeated measures (tests) on one factor. The matched male (n = 32) and female (n = 32) groups showed no sex differences but significant test differences. On the Goodenough-Harris Draw-A-Man, the Woman Point scale mean IQs were lower than the Man Point scale means. The Point scale means were significantly lower than the Quality scale means for all three drawings (Man, Woman, Self). Correlations of the Goodenough-Harris 1Qs with WAIS and PPVT IQs were lower for women rhan for men. The Goodenough-Harris IQ scores correlated better with the WAIS Performance scale IQ than with the Verbal scale IQ. PPVT IQs tended to fall between the WAIS Verbal and Performance scale IQs but correlated better with the Verbal scale than with the Performance scale. The PPVT, a vocabulary measure, was a somewhat better over-all predictor of the WAIS IQ than the Goodenough-Harris drawings.

Field independence and academic achievement of engineering students.

Abstract: The Hidden-figures Test was used as a group measure of field independence with 184 male engineering students. Scores did not correlate significantly with cumulative grade average or with freshman aptitude scores. Aptitude scores were a better predictor of success in an engineering program than the field-independence scores.

Group discussion versus persuasive speech in changing behavior

Abstract: There has been much research concerning attitude change, but few studies examining concomitant changes in behavior. Those studies that have studied behavioral changes have produced inconsistent results The present study was directed at exploring the relationship between different methods of changing behavior. Forty-six undergraduate students were assigned to either a control, persuasive speech, general discussion, or problem-solving discussion conditions. Experimental conditions were measured by two dependent variables: the number of volunteers (behavioral intention) and appearance at a meeting the following day (overt behavior). With regard to behavioral intentions, persuasive speech did not differ from controls; both types of discussion were equally more effective than a persuasive speech. With regard to overt behavior, no subjects, in any condition, appeared at the meeting. It was concluded that attitudes are not necessari iy consistent with actions.

The electrophysiological correlates of learning in the developing kitten

Abstract: The objectives of this experiment were (a) to study the development of classical conditioning in the kitten using light as the conditioned stimulus (CS) , shock as the unconditioned stimulus (US), and leg flexion as the conditioned response; (b) to investigate physiological correlates of learning during the development of classical conditioning such as visual evoked responses (VER), visual following (VF), electrocardiogram (EKG), and galvanic skin response (GSR); and (c) to ascertain the relationship, during development, between physiological and behavioral changes associated with conditioning. Four kittens were exposed to two classical conditioning paradigms. Two Ss received a continuous 10 sec. light paired from the 9th to the 10th sec. with shock, and two received 5 light flashes 2 secs, apart, the last being paired with shock. Four control Ss received the same number of photic stimuli and shocks as their experimental counterparts but on no occasion was light and shock paired. GSR, EKG, VERS and leg-flexion responses were recorded from all 8 animals during a 24 day experimental period. No obvious evidence was found for learning except for suggestive changes in GSR responses. However, it was observed that the development of the short-latency positive and negative components of the Ss VERs appeared later than normal or not at all. On the other hand, the long-latency ^ wave demonstrated precociousness showing larger amplitudes and in one of the two paradigms, shorter latencies than normal. 1 The dominant waveform observed throughout the development of the VER in the kittens used in this study was the long-latency negative ^ wave followed by a huge positive after-swing. The typical "W-wave usually observed in the adult catTs VER was over-shadowed by the positive-negative complex and in many cases never appeared. A comparison of four VERs obtained from the kitLens in paradigm II (intermittent light) revealed that they were able to give comparable or nearly comparable VERs at 10 days of age to light flashed 2 seconds apart. This suggests that when shocked, the kittens may develop this ability sometime prior to 10 days postnatally. The average latencies of the ■'■N waves for the kittens used in paradigm I were found to be shorter than that observed in unshocked kittens (Rose, 1971). However, these latencies showed the normal trend of decreasing with age as was observed by Rose. Table of

Effect of sound stimulation on visual afterimages.

Abstract: Summary.-This report describes the structure and operation of a device which provides reliable measurement of changes in the apparent size and brightness of achromatic negative afterimages. Utilizing this device two experiments were conducted to assess the effects of pure tone intensity and frequency on reported size and brightness of afterimages. Intense sound stimulation produced very pronounced increases in afterimage size and brightness. These results were discussed in light of previous Soviet findings.

Volume Change Associated with Noncubic Defects in a Monatomic Lattice

Abstract: The formalism of the method of lattice statics is applied to obtain an expression for the volume change associated with a noncubic point defect in a monatomic lattice, assuming that the defect exerts no shear stress. This expression is used to calculate the volume changes associated with the octahedral and tetrahedral carbon interstitials in $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-iron.

Effects of prior experience of one group member on the performance of the wheel network

Abstract: The present study investigated the effects of prior experience of one group member on the performance of the wheel network. Groups participating in the experiment included four experi­ mental groups and a control group. The four experimental groups included combinations of centrally or peripherally trained Ss transferred to a central or peripheral position in naive wheel networks. Dependent variables were measured in four categories: time, number of messages, number of errors, and individual ratings on a post-communication questionnaire. The position occupied by the experienced Ss during training had no apparent effect on their transfer group*s performance. The network position of the experienced £> in the transfer situ ation had a significant impact on his group *s time to complete the task and the number of messages they sent. Wheel network groups consisting of one experienced group member in the cen­ tral position were significantly more efficient in solving sim pie tasks than were naive control groups. No significant differences were found between the ratings of the groups on the five questionnaire items. Experienced central members were found to have significantly higher ratings of their sat­ isfaction with position in the group than were experienced peripheral members.