Alliance and Dropout in Family Therapy for Adolescents With Behavior Problems: Individual and Systemic Effects.

This study examined the relationship between alliance and retention in family therapy. Alliance was examined at the individual (parent and adolescent) and family levels (within-family differences). Participants were 34 families who received functional family therapy for the treatment of adolescent (aged 12-18 years) behavior problems. Families were classified as treatment dropouts (n=14) or completers (n=20). Videotapes of the first sessions were rated to identify parent and adolescent alliances with the therapist. Results demonstrated that individual parent and adolescent alliances did not predict retention. However, as hypothesized, dropout cases had significantly higher unbalanced alliances (parent minus adolescent) than did completer cases. These findings highlight the importance of alliances in functional family therapy and suggest that how the alliance operates in conjoint family therapy may be a function of systemic rather than of individual processes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Theories, theoretical orientation, and theoretical dimensions: Comment on Poznanski and McLennan (1995).

J. J. Poznanski and J. McLennan's (see record 1996-07039-001) article helpfully integrates research on a topic of considerable importance. Their derivation of two second-order "factors" (analytic-experiential and objective-subjective), as well as five more specific factors, in theoretical orientation is particularly helpful. In this comment, I seek to clarify how therapists' preferences for certain techniques relate to theoretical orientation. Reasons for the slow pace of research on multi-item self-report measures of theoretical orientation are suggested, as is an alternative measurement approach to that recommended by Poznanski and McLennan. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A fast algorithm for the generalized parametric minimum cut problem and applications

Many combinatorial optimization problems are solved by a sequence of network flow computations on a network whose edge capacities are given as a function of a parameter λ. Recently Galloet al. [7] made a major advance in solving such parametric flow problems. They showed that for an important class of networks, calledmonotone parametric flow networks, a sequence ofO(n) flow computations could be solved in the same worst-case time bound as a single flow. However, these results require one of two special assumptions: either that the λ values are presented in increasing or decreasing order; or that the edge capacity functions are affine functions of λ. In this paper we show how to remove both of these assumptions while obtaining the same running times as in [7]. This observation generalizes and unifies the two major results of [7], and allows its ideas to be applied to many new combinatorial problems. Of greatest importance, it allows the efficient application of binary search and successive binary search to a sequence of network flow problems.     

Stabilization of Cubic Zirconia with Manganese Oxide

A directionally solidified eutectic (DSE) of MnO-ZrO₂ has been investigated using a variety of electron optical techniques. It is found that considerable MnO goes into ZrO₂ to form a substitutional solid solution. About 14 wt% of MnO is soluble in ZrO₂ close to the eutectic temperature. The solubility of ZrO₂ in MnO, however, is quite low, less than 0.50 wt%. Electron diffraction experiments indicate that ZrO₂ (MnO) has the cubic fluorite structure. Diffuse scattering, similar to other cubic zirconias (e.g., CaO, MgO stabilized zirconia), is also observed in manganese-stabilized zirconia. Diffuse scattering indicates the presence of oxygen vacancies and thus confirms the defect nature of the fluorite structure. Electron energy loss spectrometry (EELS) fine structure analysis of the Mn L₂₃ edge provided clear evidence that Mn is present as Mn²⁺ in Mn-stabilized cubic ZrO₂.     

The role of neuropsychology in the assessment and treatment of persons with epilepsy.

Several areas of current interest in the neuropsychology of epilepsy are briefly reviewed in this article. These include variables pertaining to seizures, seizure history, antiepileptic drugs, and methods of neuropsychological evaluation. It is apparent that epilepsy is a multifaceted area: Psychologists not only can be of great assistance to patients with this condition, but may also learn a great deal from this complex disorder. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mechanism for the Peritectic Reaction and Growth of Aligned Grains in YBa2Cu3O6+x

It is experimentally observed that the peritectic reaction, 211 + liquid → 123, can be driven essentially to completion in 1 h at an undercooling of only ∽30°C. The kinetic data, together with the observed microstructures, are inconsistent with the normal mechanism of the peritectic reaction. It is proposed that the mechanism of the reaction involves dissolution of 211 particles into the liquid and precipitation of solid 123. The aligned grain structure is explained through sympathetic nucleation of new 123 grains on existing grains.     

An integrated energy planning model for Illinois

An integrated energy supply and demand model for the state of Illinois is described. This equilibrium model is an important tool for integrating information from a variety of planning studies and data bases. A wide range of energy issues affecting diverse areas of the energy system, such as Illinois coal production under alternate oil price assumptions, renewable energy resource potential, and conservation options, can be analyzed by using the model.     

Application of differential quadrature to static analysis of structural components

The numerical technique of differential quadrature for the solution of linear and non-linear partial differential equations, first introduced by Bellman and his associates, is applied to the equations governing the deflection and buckling behaviour of one- and two-dimensional structural components. Separate transformations are used for higher-order derivatives, as suggested by Mingle, thus extending the method to treat fourth-order equations and to include multiple, boundary conditions in the respective co-ordinate directions. Results are obtained for various boundary and loading conditions and are compared with existing exact and numerical solutions by other methods. The application of differential quadrature to this class of problems is seen to lead to accurate results with relatively small computational effort.