Showing papers by "University of Pennsylvania published in 1975"

Comparative Studies of Psychotherapies: Is It True That Everyone Has Won and All Must Have Prizes?

Abstract: Tallies were made of outcomes of all reasonably controlled comparisons of psychotherapies with each other and with other treatments. For comparisons of psychotherapy with each other, most studies found insignificant differences in proportions of patients who improved (though most patients benefited). This "tie score effect" did not apply to psychotherapies vs psychopharmacotherapies compared singly—psychopharmacotherapies did better. Combined treatments often did better than single treatments. Among the comparisons, only two specially beneficial matches between type of patient and type of treatment were found. Our explanations for the usual tie score effect emphasize the common components among psychotherapies, especially the helping relationship with a therapist. However, we believe the research does not justify the conclusion that we should randomly assign patients to treatments—research results are usually based on amount of improvement; "amount" may not disclose differences in quality of improvement from each treatment.

Capacitation of Rabbit Spermatozoa in vitro

Abstract: This research was carried out to define in vitro conditions that would enable ejaculated rabbit sperm to fertilize ova in vitro. During 20 mm exposure of sperm cells to defined media of increasing NaCI concentrations, progressive removal or alteration of sperm surface seminal plasma antigenic components was initiated and completed as reflected by an immunological assay at approximately 300 and 380 mOsm/kg, respectively. Hypertonic (380 mOsm/kg) medium effected complete removal or alteration of these components as determined by the immunological assay during the first 5 mm of sperm treatment. Isotonic (305 mOsm/kg) treatment was shown to have effected removal or alteration of some but not all of the antigenic sperm coating seminal plasma components detectable by this means during 20 mm of exposure. Sperm within the perivitelline apace, presence of pronuclei. and 2- and 4-cell cleavage stages were taken as evidence for fertilization. None of 34 ova incubated for 27 h in vitro with once-washed sperm showed evidence of fertilization. Following treatment of sperm with hypertonic (380 mOsm/kg) medium prior to in vitro insemination, proportions of ova showing evidence of fertilization ranged from 8.1 percent (12 to 148 ova) to 72.2 percent (52 of 72 ova); and, following treatment of sperm with isotonic (305 mOsm/kg) medium, fertilization of ova ranged from 0 percent (0 to 19 ova) to 73.9 percent (SI of 69 ova) when results were considered according to individual male sperm donors. No large differences were found by the immunological assay that could be linked to variability of fertilizing ability of sperm from different bucks. Differences in metabolic characteristics of sperm cells was suggested as a likely reason for differences in fertilizing ability of sperm from different bucks. In experiments using sperm and ova from the same sources, no differences in fertilization results were apparent following 305 and 380 mOsm/kg sperm treatments, Initiation, but not completion, of removal or alteration of sperm surface seminal plasma antigenic components, then, was a necessary prerequisite to in vitro insemination for successful achievement of fertilization in vitro. Sperm penetration into ova occurred in some cases before 7-10 h after insemination (4 of 54 ova penetrated), but actively motile sperm were found within the perivitelline apace of other ova as late as 25 h after insemination. One hundred and seventy-six 2- and 4-cell stage embryos were transferred to 14 recipient does. Twenty-four embryos (13.1 percent) implanted in 6 recipients but most were resorbed. Three embryos resulting from in vitro fertilization with in vitro capacitated ejaculated rabbit sperm were carried successfully to term by 2 recipients and 2 of the offspring were males. This provides documentation for the authenticity of in vitro capacitation of ejaculated sperm of a mammalian species and represents the initial successful combination of in vitro sperm capacitation with in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer in the rabbit.

Dynamics and statistical mechanics of a one-dimensional model Hamiltonian for structural phase transitions

Abstract: We have studied thermodynamic and some dynamic properties of a one-dimensional-model system whose displacement field Hamiltonian is strongly anharmonic, and is representative of those used to study displacive phase transitions. By studying the classical equations of motion, we find important solutions (domain walls) which cannot be represented effectively by the usual phonon perturbation expansions. The thermodynamic properties of this system can be calculated exactly by functional integral methods. No Hartree or decoupling approximations are made nor is a temperature dependence of the Hamiltonian introduced artificially. At low temperature, the thermodynamic behavior agrees with that found from a phenomenological model in which both phonons and domain walls are included as elementary excitations. We then show that equal-time correlation functions calculated by both functional-integral and phenomenological methods agree, and that the dynamic correlation functions (calculated only phenomenologically) exhibit a spectrum with both phonon peaks and a central peak due to domain-wall motion.

Dynamic and steady state studies of phenol biodegradation in pure and mixed cultures

Abstract: The microbial degradation of phenol by pure and mixed cultures of Pseudomonas putida was studied in batch, phenol-stat, and continuous culture systems. In the continuous culture runs, both steady state and transient experiments were performed. From these experiments, a model for the kinetic behavior of the organisms was evolved and an analysis performed on the stability and dynamic behavior of pure and mixed cultures. The results indicate that it should be possible to achieve phenol removal from wastewaters down to levels of 1-2 ppm in a single state system. However, because of the effect of substrate inhibition on kinetic behavior of the microorganisms, long lasting transients can occur. The transient behavior of such systems cannot be solely determined from mumax or Ks parameters, but must include a consideration of the transient size and response characteristic of the organism.

Toward a Marxian Theory of Deviance

Abstract: This paper considers the prospects for the development of a Marxian interpretation of deviance and control. The weaknesses of conventional perspectives are identified and an approach is suggested which applies the insights of Marxian theory to an investigation of deviance production in modern society. This process is explored with special attention to the capitalist mode of production, the system of class control in capitalist societies, the genesis and maintenance of “problem populations,” the channeling of these populations into deviant statuses, and the distinctive character of deviant groups. The emergence of monopoly and state capitalism is examined in an attempt to understand the dynamics of structural change, deviance production and social control. The overproduction of deviance in advanced capitalist societies and attempts at the “solution” of this problem are also discussed.

Mapping of functional neural pathways by autoradiographic survey of local metabolic rate with (14C)deoxyglucose.

Abstract: An enzymatic preparation from human brain converts tryptamine to tryptoline (9H-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrido(3,4-b)indole) in the presence of 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid. Similarly, N-methyltryptamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine yield 1-methyltryptoline and 5-hydroxytryptoline, respectively. Neither in vitro nor in vivo formation of these compounds by human tissues has been described.

Strain localization in cyclic deformation of copper single crystals

Abstract: The localization of plastic strain into macroscopic groups of persistent slip bands has been determined on copper single crystals strain-cycled into saturation. The macroscopic bands traverse the whole cross section and undergo complete reversibility of plastic strain with load reversibility. Although overall, surface slip steps form in proportion to the applied plastic strain, individual steps are not always completely reversed, leading to the rapid formation of a notch-peak topography within the bands. The dislocation structure of the persistent slip bands was determined, permitting a critical assessment of the various mechanisms proposed for saturation in low-strain cyclic deformation. Using existing ideas, an adequate model of saturation is based upon the cooperative movement of primary links between the persistent slip-band walls, but impeded in their motion by point-defect clusters and small dislocation debris.

Development and Physiology of the Oöcyte-Nurse Cell Syncytium1

Abstract: Publisher Summary Intercellular bridges link the nurse cells to the oocyte, and these facilitate the trophic functions of the system by providing channels across which synthetic products move. While the mechanism of transport through the bridges has not been adequately studied, there can be no question about the fact that movement in the system as a whole is strongly polarized. Thus, during their most active period of synthesis, the nurse cells in some species retain a relatively constant size, while the oocyte undergoes a slow but steady growth. A recent study of the oocyte-nurse cell complex in Hyalophora cecropia provided a clue to the physiological basis of bridge polarity. A10 mV potential gradient is found to be maintained between the nurse cells and the oocyte during the several days period when cytoplasmic transfer occurs. The direction of the gradient is consistent being a driving force behind the movement of negatively charged materials, such as ribosomes, and other forms of oocyte RNA that are known to be synthesized in the nurse cell. This chapter summarizes the literature on the development and function of the oocyte–nurse cell complex to examine the relations between these cells.

Education and Screening

Abstract: Since the advent of the human capital concept, much attention has been devoted to the relationship between income and schooling. Their positive association is one of the most consistent empirical findings of the human capital literature. The conventional view, the productivity augmenting view, is that schooling enhances earnings via the production of marketable skills. But, recent theoretical arguments have suggested the possibility that schooling's private monetary return may be informationally based.' In the most extreme form of this screening hypothesis, schooling serves only to identify those individuals who are more productive in the market, the proposition being that an individual's productivity is unaffected- by the formal schooling process. The importance of these competing explanations relates to schooling's implied social return. If schooling's sole function is informational, its social product is determined exclusively by the gain to productive rearrangements which are made feasible by the less imperfect ex ante knowledge of individual productivities. In the most extreme form of screening it is only the relationship between aggregate output and schooling's informational content that determines, along with the resource cost of schooling, the socially optimal investment in school

X-Ray-Diffuse-Scattering Evidence for a Phase Transition in Tetrathiafulvalene Tetracyanoquinodimethane (TTF-TCNQ).

Abstract: X-ray-diffuse-scattering measurements of tetrathiafulvalene tetracyanoquinodimethane (TTF-TCNQ) show structural evidence of a phase transition. The low-temperature three dimensional superlattice ($2a\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}3.7b\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\mathrm{Xc}$) is found to be preceded above 40 K by one-dimensional fluctuations or a one-dimensional distortion visible up to 55 K.

Functional and ecological significance of relative growth in Alligator

Abstract: Allometric coefficients are calculated for 27 cranial and 39 postcranial measurements of a growth series of Alligator mississipiensis that spans a size range of an order of magnitude. Developmental patterns are quite-well canalized, as expressed in coefficients of variation of 8 to 10 for isometric variables. A multivariate expression of allometry is discovered using principal components analysis. A number of allometric coefficients have expression in known aspects of the life history of Alligator. Negative allometry of limb lengths and limb proportions shows an ontogenetic decrease in importance of the limbs throughout life, and observations show large animals to be more dependent on water than small ones. Isometry of skull length with respect to body length represents an adaptation to ever-increasing size of prey items as body size increases. Positive allometry of snout length and size of the upper temporal fenestrae finds parallel in the structure of the highly aquatic gavial.

An alternative approach to the problem of assessing stabilization energies in cyclic conjugated hydrocarbons

Abstract: Reactions are described that provide an alternative basis for evaluating stabilization energies of cyclic conjugated hydrocarbons. These reactions involve no changes in hybridization of carbon atoms and minimal changes in the nature of the carbon-hydrogen bonds. Such reactions exemplify those structural features that lead to stabilization. Theoretical and experimental molecular indices are introduced as a measure of these stabilizing effects. Calculated values of these indices are compared to experimental results.

Incidence of depression in early adolescence: A preliminary study.

Abstract: The authors wished to determine whether depression was present in an early adolescent nonpatient identified school population. Questionnaires were administered to seventh and eighth grade students in a parochial extended elementary school. The findings indicated that 33.3% of this school population were experiencing moderate to severe depression and 35% of the sample acknowledged current suicidal ideation. A comparison of mean scores showed a trend toward more depressive symptomatology in the eighth grade, possibly indicating a developmental critical period. A correlation of individual scores and teacher ratings suggests that teacher evaluation may have some direct effect on the student's emotional health. The authors make specific suggestions for promoting improved mental health in a school setting.