Biomedical subjects
H Wichman
Publications and source records attributed to H Wichman.
Radiology/pathology conference from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
Inflammatory pseudotumor of the heart is a benign tumor-like lesion consisting of reparitive granulation tissue with fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, and plasma cells predominating. This lesion is commonly seen in the lungs. The authors present this case report to stimulate discussion.
Cognitive rigidity in suicide attempters.
A number of investigators have reported evidence of cognitive rigidity in suicide attempters (e.g., Levenson & Neuringer, 1971; Neuringer, 1964; Patsiokas, Clum, & Luscomb, 1979). It is important to note, however, that in all of the studies that found suicide attempters to be rigid, the test batteries had been administered to persons during their period of hospitalization immediately following a suicide attempt-thus, presumably, while they were still in the crisis period. The present study was designed as a step toward determining whether cognitive rigidity is a personality trait of suicide attempters or simply a transient characteristic limited to the crisis period. We administered tests for rigidity to persons who had attempted suicide but were well past the crisis period. These persons were less rigid than attempters from previous studies on the Rokeach Map Test (p less than .05) and the Alternate Uses Test (p less than .001). The implication is that if indeed there is a suicidal personality, rigidity is not a defining trait.
Effects of locus of control and task complexity on prospective remembering.
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Locus of control, self-serving biases, and attitudes towards safety in general aviation pilots.
Of the three related survey studies that were conducted, two are summarized and one, which characterizes all three, is reported in detail. The studies attempted to determine how aviators compared with the general population on the personality dimension--locus of control (internal vs. external) and how this was related to aviators' attendance at FAA Safety Clinics. In addition, aviators were surveyed regarding their attitudes towards safety, their flying skill, and the likelihood that they would have an accident during the remainder of their careers. Results showed aviators to be significantly more internal in locus of control than the general U.S. population and to have strong self-serving biases regarding their skill and safety levels. Pilots who attended FAA Safety Clinics tended to have a more internal locus of control than those who did not.
In-flight measures of stress reduction due to wearing expandable foam earplugs.
Ten low-time pilots (less than 150 h) who did not normally use earplugs flew three flights each in Cessna-152 training planes. The flight routines were all the same, lasting about 45 minutes. Each pilot flew one flight while adapting to earplugs, another flight with earplugs, and a third flight without earplugs. Pilot's breathing rate was the measure of autonomic arousal. A baseline rate was measured before each flight and in-flight scores were expressed as changes from baseline. Half the pilots flew their flights in the order, with-with-without earplugs and half flew in the order without-with-with. Results showed a mean increase in breathing rate above preflight baseline of 30% without earplugs and an increase of only 21% with earplugs (data taken from second flight with earplugs) for a significant savings of 9% (p less than 0.025, Wilcoxsen matched-pairs signed-ranks test, one tailed).
"Inner" darts: effects of mental practice on performance of dart throwing.
To explore the effects of mental rehearsal on the performance of a motor skill, 32 college undergraduates were scored on dart-throwing ability and randomly assigned to one of 4 practice conditions: no-practice controls, mental rehearsal only, mental rehearsal with simulated dart-throwing motor movements, and direct physical practice. Following 6 days of mental or physical practice by the experimental groups, the performance level on the dart-throwing task was again measured for all subjects. Comparison of improvement showed statistically significant differences between the groups. Follow-up tests showed that all experimental groups differed significantly from the no-practice group, there were no significant differences between mental practice groups and direct physical practice resulted in improvements significantly higher than any other form of practice.
Inexpensive technique to record respiration during flight.
This paper describes the development and use of a small (19 X 11 X 18 cm) tape recording system designed to monitor respiratory patterns during flight. This lightweight system (1.85 kg) was developed for less than $200 using commerically available subassemblies. Respiratory patterns are detected via a comfortable intranasal thermometer, amplified, and converted to an FM signal for taping. The device will also convert the tape recorded signal to a graphic display on a laboratory strip chart recorder. Reliable recordings of respiratory rate and respiratory regularity have been made in ambient temperatures of up to 43 degrees C. Chart recordings of student pilots' respiratory patterns at different stages of flight are presented. With modifications to the transducer assembly and amplifier, the basic recording system may be used to monitor other biological functions such as EMG, GSR, EEG, and ECG. Environmental variables have a frequency of less than 250 Hz (wind velocity, temperature, noise, etc.) may also be recorded with proper transducers.
A scientist in the cockpit: the case history and analysis of a UFO SIGHTING.
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Prevention of fatal pulmonary embolism.
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The use of dextran in the prevention of thromboembolism in patients with major fractures.
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