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PubMed1989

The ontogeny of dendrite bundles in rabbit visual cortex.

Time schedule and mechanisms of the appearance of dendrite bundles in laminae IV and II/III of the visual cortex have been investigated in the rabbit from the first appearance of the cortical plate during fetal development up to adult stages. Sections cut either perpendicularly or tangentially to the cortical surface were used for light- and electron-microscopic analysis. Dendrite bundles appear during the late fetal period and the first postnatal days in a biphasic process. The first step takes place during late fetal development. Due to migration of neuroblasts along radial processes of glial cells, column-like compartments of neuropil are formed in laminae II-IV which contain the apical processes of the nerve cells situated in deeper layers. They represent the units of origin for the later dendrite bundles. The second step is initiated immediately after birth when axons arrive and small oblique and horizontal dendrites start to sprout from perikarya as well as from the apical dendrites. These new cell processes proliferate and grow rapidly. However, during this growth process groups of apical dendrites of pyramidal cells remain together, and they later form the bundles. In the beginning of this process many apical dendrites are connected with each other by punctae adhaerentiae. The basic pattern of dendrite bundles is present before the eyes open and before the majority of spines and synaptic contacts are formed.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Face recognition in children.

The human face provides important cues for recognition of both individuals and emotions. A card-sorting test was devised for assessing which aspects of a face are attended to primarily. The subjects were 21 5-year-old children and 18 psychology students. The task required a choice between person identity and an irrelevant aspect (hairstyle); person identity and facial expression (emotions); and as a control condition, complex visual stimuli without social meaning (form and colour). No group differences emerged with the non-social stimuli, ruling out differences between children and adults in general sorting strategies. The two groups processed non-emotional facial stimuli differently, with the children showing "mixed" sorting behaviour, and the students usually making choices based on person identity. This can be explained by different processing strategies. However, when person identity and facial expressions were the competing dimensions in the card-sorting task, both groups showed a preference for the facial expression. It is argued that this reflects the great importance of emotional signals for both children and adults. The relevance of this finding for disturbed development is discussed.

Child↗
PubMed1996

A follow-up study of synthetic rubber workers.

Although 1,3-butadiene (BD) has been classified as an animal carcinogen, epidemiologic research has reported inconsistent results on the relationship between BD and lymphopoietic and other cancers in humans. This study evaluated the mortality experience of 15649 men employed for at least 1 year at any of eight North American styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) plants. About 75% of the subjects were exposed to BD; 83% were exposed to styrene (STY). During 1943-1991, the cohort had a total of 386172 and an average of 25 person-years of follow-up, with 3976 deaths observed compared to 4553 deaths expected based on general population mortality rates (standardized mortality ratio (SMR) = 87, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 85-90). More than expected leukemia deaths occurred in the overall cohort (48 observed/37 expected, SMR = 131, CI = 97-174) and among ever hourly subjects (45/32, SMR = 143, CI = 104-191). The excess was concentrated among ever hourly subjects with 10+ years worked and 20+ years since hire (28/13, SMR = 224, CI = 149-323) and among subjects in polymerization (15/6.0, SMR = 251, CI = 140-414), maintenance labor (13/4.9, SMR = 265, CI = 141-453) and laboratories (10/2.3, SMR = 431, CI = 207-793), three areas with potential for relatively high exposure to BD or STY monomers. Some cohort sub-groups had slight increases in deaths from lymphopoietic cancers other than leukemia, but mortality patterns by race, years worked and process group within the SBR industry did not indicate a causal association with occupational exposures. These results indicate that exposures in the SBR industry cause leukemia.

Butadienes↗
PubMed2005

Infant music perception: domain-general or domain-specific mechanisms?

We review the literature on infants' perception of pitch and temporal patterns, relating it to comparable research with human adult and non-human listeners. Although there are parallels in relative pitch processing across age and species, there are notable differences. Infants accomplish such tasks with ease, but non-human listeners require extensive training to achieve very modest levels of performance. In general, human listeners process auditory sequences in a holistic manner, and non-human listeners focus on absolute aspects of individual tones. Temporal grouping processes and categorization on the basis of rhythm are evident in non-human listeners and in human infants and adults. Although synchronization to sound patterns is thought to be uniquely human, tapping to music, synchronous firefly flashing, and other cyclic behaviors can be described by similar mathematical principles. We conclude that infants' music perception skills are a product of general perceptual mechanisms that are neither music- nor species-specific. Along with general-purpose mechanisms for the perceptual foundations of music, we suggest unique motivational mechanisms that can account for the perpetuation of musical behavior in all human societies.

Auditory Perception↗
PubMed2001

Health-related quality of life in childhood disorders: a modified focus group technique to involve children.

OBJECTIVES: Qualitative methodology has been under-utilized in child health research due to lack of a specific set of instruments. The objective of this study was to develop a child-centred qualitative research methodology to facilitate direct exploration of health-related quality of life (HRQL) issues and to identify the quality of life elements in pre-adolescent children with a chronic medical condition. STUDY DESIGN: Purposeful stratified sampling of children, ages 6-12, who function in a regular school class, with active epilepsy who were assembled in small focus groups. The groups met in four phases and were led by moderators who probed preset open questions and activities. RESULTS: The study demonstrated that our modified focus groups process was a powerful exploratory experience eliciting meaningful and important issues in quality of life beyond what parents and health professionals expected, and helped identify HRQL elements in childhood epilepsy. CONCLUSION: Modified focus groups are appropriate and suitable to explore quality of life issues in pre-adolescent children with a chronic medical condition. The process is feasible and trustworthy.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Shared understandings: structuring the writing experience through dialogue.

When teachers view writing as a social process in which authors write for real audiences and authentic purposes, they change their instruction accordingly to meet the needs of writers with learning disabilities. As more experienced members of a larger community of writers, teachers play a primary role in apprenticing students into the inherently social functions of writing. Through teacher-student dialogues about the complexities of the writing process, students gradually develop and control their own writing "voice" as they use and transform the shared understandings of the group process. Text structure, writing strategies, and metacognitive knowledge of the writing process provide opportunities for teachers and students with learning disabilities to interact and create shared understandings about the composition process. This article reviews some recent attempts to use text structures and the writing process as frameworks to guide the composition dialogue.

Child↗
PubMed2003

Sanctioned social violence: A psychoanalytic view--part I.

This paper is the first of a series of two that present an effort to systematize the application of psychoanalytic theory of group processes to the outbreak of massive violence. It explores the origins and social amplification of primitive aggression by means of group psychology and mass psychology, and the combined influences of the regressive pull of ideologies, the personality features of social and political leadership, and the triggering impact of historical trauma and social crises. The paper describes a spectrum of narcissistic-paranoid mechanisms that provide a common matrix for the analysis of those aspects of social psychology that co-determine socially sanctioned violence.

Aggression↗
PubMed2000

Exploring the additive effects of drug misuse treatment and Twelve-Step involvement: does Twelve-Step ideology matter?

Previous research revealed an additive effect of recovery activities in that those who attended Twelve-Step meetings on a weekly basis during and after outpatient drug-user treatment had higher rates of abstinence compared to those who participated in either treatment or Twelve-Step programs alone. The current investigation extends the previous research by examining the possible effects of Twelve-Step ideology on participation in Twelve-Step programs and abstinence from drug use. The findings from this treatment outcomes study indicate that the acceptance of Twelve-Step ideology, particularly strong agreement with the need for frequent, lifelong attendance at Twelve-Step meetings, and the need to surrender to a "higher power" are significant predictors of weekly or more frequent attendance at Twelve-Step meetings independent from other potentially mediating variables. Twelve-Step ideology, specifically the notion that controlled or nonproblematic drug use is not possible, predicted abstinence independent from Twelve-Step participation and other potentially mediating variables. These findings often a number of implications concerning group process and recovery from drug misuse which are addressed in the Discussion section under the following topics: 1) spirituality and group cohesion, 2) spiritual transcendence, social transcendence, and recovery; 3) spirituality and the obstruction of recovery; 4) Twelve-Step ideology and learning; 5) perceived control of drug use, self-efficacy theory, and recovery; and 7) perceived control of drug use and optimistic illusions. Directions for future research are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Perceptual organization of two-dimensional patterns.

The perceptual organization of image patterns is considered from 2 standpoints. First, a theoretical framework is presented from which computational models of perceptual organization can be constructed and tested. Second, a specific computational model for perceptual organization of line images is described. In this model, input images are first processed by a dense array of neurons that have properties consistent with recent analyses of single-neuron responses in primary visual cortex. Then, complex image structure is discovered by interleaved pattern-matching and grouping processes constrained by a generalized uniqueness principle. A series of 3-pattern grouping experiments was performed to test a restricted version of the model and to estimate critical parameters. Using the estimated parameters, an extended version of the model was tested by generating predictions for a series of "textbook" perceptual organization demonstrations.

Humans↗
PubMed1978

Subcellular fractionation of intra-axonally transport polypeptides in the rabbit visual system.

We analyzed the subcellular distributions of proteins that are transported down the axons of rabbit retinal ganglion cells and compared these distributions to those of enzyme markers for endoplasmic reticulum, plasma membrane, and mitochondria. The proteins of each of five previously identified transport groups were uniquely distributed through the subcellular fractions, suggesting that each transport group is associated with different subcellular organelles. In particular, all of the observed group I polypeptides (the most rapidly moving, group, maximum velocity greater than 240 mm/day) were associated with material of hydrodynamic properties similar to those of the plasma membrane. The proteins of group II (maximum velocity = 34--68 mm/day) were heterogenous in their subcellular distributions but included mitochondrial proteins. Groups III and IV (maximum velocity = 4--8 and 2--4 mm/day, respectively) included materials that may be involved in motile processes; group V (maximum velocity = 0.7--1.1 mm/day) contained material of very high density which may be associated with neurofilaments.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Possibilities for unexplained chronic illnesses among reserve units deployed in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

Because Armed Forces Reserve members, especially combat support units, were rapidly mobilized during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, they were at higher risk for anxiety and stress-related disorders. Personnel in reserve units in the military force structure are at greater risk for psychologic stress due to rapid mobilization and demobilization, which allows minimal time to process adverse experiences or fears. The unexpected disruption of families and careers and resulting financial pressures are magnified in older age groups who have increased personal and family commitments. Personnel in combat support units are at greatest risk when they lack necessary training, cohesion, and leadership. Prevention efforts in reserve units should involve education regarding the potential for activation and associated disruption of family and career plans. Support networks for reserve families should be encouraged. Additional training in an appropriate context regarding risks of biologic and chemical exposure, with the goal of developing confidence in training and equipment, should be stressed. Finally, group processing before demobilization and recall within 90 days of return to emphasize unit cohesion and readjustment to civilian life may be of benefit.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed2005

Public health and terrorism preparedness: cross-border issues.

On December 15, 2003, the Centers for Public Health Preparedness at the University of Minnesota and the University of Iowa convened the "Public Health and Terrorism Preparedness: Cross-Border Issues Roundtable." The purpose of the roundtable was to gather public health professionals and government agency representatives at the state, provincial, and local levels to identify unmet cross-border emergency preparedness and response needs and develop strategies for addressing these needs. Representatives from six state and local public health departments and three provincial governments were invited to identify cross-border needs and issues using a nominal group process. The result of the roundtable was identification of the needs considered most important and most doable across all the focus groups. The need to collaborate on and exchange plans and protocols among agencies was identified as most important and most doable across all groups. Development of contact protocols and creation and maintenance of a contact database was also considered important and doable for a majority of groups. Other needs ranked important across the majority of groups included specific isolation and quarantine protocols for multi-state responses; a system for rapid and secure exchange of information; specific protocols for sharing human resources across borders, including emergency credentials for physicians and health care workers; and a specific protocol to coordinate Strategic National Stockpile mechanisms across border communities.

Bioterrorism↗
PubMed2004

[The change of mothers with autistic children: from analyzing the process of support group].

The purpose of this study was to analyze the processes by which support groups assist mothers with autistic children, in order to understand how mothers adapt themselves and reestablish relationships within the environment of the support group. In this qualitative study, eight mothers were recruited to form a support group. The group met for 10 sessions, each lasting 90 minutes. All the sessions were recorded in full on both audio and video tape. The data were analysed by the content analysis method. The results were used to analyze the process of change within mothers who took care of their autistic children, including transitions involving the termination of a fond dream, emerging from confusion, finding hope and seeking help; facing the family--reversing the course of events and taking responsibility; facing society--respecting life. The results show the changes in mothers caused by the group experience and the effects on them of interaction between themselves and their spouse, relatives and the autistic child since the time of the child's birth. The results should help health workers to gain a deeper understanding of mothers with autistic children.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Facilitating positive changes in community dementia management through participatory action research.

This paper reports on a participatory action research study which arose out of the initiatives of people caring for clients attending a multicultural dementia day-care program. Through a democratic decision making process, the day-care staff and family carers consulted with clients to design, implement and evaluate a new therapy program. The researchers acted as facilitators in this process, with a view to empowering participants at each stage in the action research cycles. What started out as a negative situation for the majority of study participants, evolved to become a satisfying group process and positive outcomes resulted from the therapy program itself. For clients there was the renewal of close personal relationships with family carers, increased alertness and a reduction in some of their distressing symptoms. For the family carers, there arose an awareness of new purposes in the caring role and therefore less distress in their daily lives, for day-care staff there emerged a re-conceptualisation of purpose of dementia care programs and the benefits to be gained from community collaboration in program design. The focus of this paper is to describe the action research process, which resulted in positive outcomes for the study participants.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

The delayed impact of group therapists' interventions.

The direct and delayed impact of therapist interventions on 21 clients in three outpatient therapy groups was examined. Sessions one and five of each group were taped with every therapist intervention analyzed according to the Group Therapist Interventions Scale and every client utterance rated on the Experiencing Scale and categorized by the Group Immediacy Scale. It was hypothesized that therapists would have a delayed rather than direct influence on group process measures. When pairs of therapist-patient statements were examined; little immediate impact was evident. However, a profound delayed impact of group leaders was inferred from the finding that astherapist interventions became more forceful over the first five sessions, patients' level and immediacy of experiencing became more intense.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Perceptual awareness and its loss in unilateral neglect and extinction.

We review recent evidence from studies of patients with unilateral neglect and/or extinction, who suffer from a loss of awareness for stimuli towards the affected side of space. We contrast their deficit with the effects of damage to primary sensory areas, noting that such areas can remain structurally intact in neglect, with lesions typically centred on the right inferior parietal lobe. In keeping with preservation of initial sensory pathways, many recent studies have shown that considerable residual processing can still take place for neglected or extinguished stimuli, yet without reaching the patient's awareness. This ranges from preserved visual grouping processes through to activation of identity, semantics and emotional significance. Similarly to 'preattentive' processing in normals, such residual processing can modulate what will enter the patient's awareness. Recent studies have used measures such as ERPs and fMRI to determine the neural correlates of conscious versus unconscious perception in the patients, which in turn can be related to the anatomy of their lesions. We relate the patient findings to neurophysiological data from areas in the monkey parietal lobe, which indicate that these serve as cross-modal and sensorimotor interfaces highlighting currently relevant locations as targets for intentional action. We speculate on the special role such brain regions may play in perceptual awareness, seeking to explain how damage to a system which appears primarily to code space could eliminate awareness even for non-spatial stimulus properties at affected locations. This may relate to the extreme nature of 'winner-takes-all' functions within the parietal lobe, and their correspondingly strong influence on other brain areas.

Awareness↗
PubMed1990

A model for group research by master's degree RNs in advanced roles.

Master's prepared RNs in advanced roles are ideally prepared to do clinical nursing research. Yet lack of time, resources, and a paucity of confidence have limited such scholarly pursuits among nurses in specialty roles. The article describes a group process by which five Master's prepared nurses (three clinical specialists, two Nursing Educators) successfully investigated and implemented a Nurse Research Interest Group (NRIG). The facilitators and obstacles are described as well as the past, present, and future activities of this group.

Clinical Nursing Research↗
PubMed1990

Sensual-imaginative training methods for students of medicine.

A specific lecture course for medical students is described which elucidates the interactions of the role of initial doctor-patient and student-patient interviews in cases where psychotherapy is to be applied to the treatment of psychosomatic illnesses. The ultimate goal of this living-learning-based teaching system is to allow the student to experience and evolve a concept of the role of the doctor with respect to the patient. The teaching system is structured in the frame of Balint groups [Balint, 1975]. Emphasis is placed on describing how medical students undergo an emotional awareness training program, to enable them to function and develop their new role as a doctor with reduced fear. We report about a specific setting in Balint groups, in which mood, physical sensation and fantasy work are made into the center point of the group process.

Curriculum↗