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Biomedical subjects

M L Dunn

Publications and source records attributed to M L Dunn.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Contextual connections within puns: effects on perceived humor and memory.

The supposition that perceived humor or cleverness would be enhanced by adding separate content to the alternative meanings of a pun was explored, using Tom Swifties as the research vehicle. Because detecting a punning word relationship might induce arousal, requiring more effort and attentional resources for processing than noting a contextual connection, memory strength for adverbs was also examined using a recognition procedure. Five studies were conducted in which college students were asked to judge 24 Swifties (content counterbalanced across participants) in which presence of pun and context were manipulated. The punning relationship was primarily responsible for perceived humor and cleverness. Presence of a pun also enhanced memory strength (d') as long as the familiarization task focused on humor and cleverness. Coherent context enhanced perceived cleverness inconsistently. It was suggested that a coherent contextual connection may make a greater contribution in more lengthy forms of pun-based word play, such as fables or "shaggy dog" stories.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Caution! NRC as protector of worker health and safety at nuclear power plants.

Congress may soon face a decision about what agency will take responsibility for worker and facility safety at Department of Energy (DOE) sites as the DOE moves to external regulation. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) occupies a prominent place on the short list of candidates. Thus, an examination of the NRC's historical record on health and safety, in particular, its record in protecting workers, is warranted. This look at the record shows that the NRC does not adopt a strong regulatory stance; exposure standards for workers have not changed despite evidence of harmful effects at low doses of radiation exposure; record-keeping and worker monitoring are lax; the NRC is blind to internal cultural problems; it appears more concerned about its public image than about entrenched problems; it is too lenient to the industry it is supposed to regulate. The NRC's history of recent problems has caused some critics to call for Congressional hearings or additional oversight of the agency.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1993

Making a presumptive diagnosis of urinary tract infection by using a urinalysis performed in an on-site laboratory.

The purpose of our study was to characterize the utility of certain elements of urinalysis, singly or in combination, in identifying children with urinary tract infections (i.e., positive findings on urine culture). Laboratory results for urine specimens subjected to both urinalysis and culture in an on-site outpatient clinic (office) laboratory during a 36-month period were reviewed. All specimens were collected by one of three methods (the midstream void technique, urethral catheterization, or suprapubic aspiration of urine) from children with symptoms to assist in documenting a possible urinary tract infection. Specimen processing by certified technologists was initiated within 10 minutes of collection. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were determined for each test or combination of tests. Of 689 specimens, 102 (14.8%) had positive culture results. The combination of dipstick analysis (leukocyte esterase and nitrite tests) and of microscopic examination for bacteria had a sensitivity of 100% and a negative predictive value of 100%. The nitrite test had a specificity of 100% and a positive predictive value of 100%. We conclude that, when properly collected specimens are evaluated promptly by certified technologists, the rate of accuracy in detecting or ruling out a urinary tract infection (i.e., positive findings on urine culture) with certain elements of the urinalysis is high.

Adolescent↗