Factor structure and validity of the Therapeutic Factors Inventory–Short Form.

Clinical group practice is commonly guided by the assumption that 11 distinct therapeutic factors operate in psychotherapy groups. This assumption should be closely examined due to the emerging evidence of fewer, more global therapeutic factors. The present study was conducted to continue the development of the Therapeutic Factors Inventory–Short Form (TFI–S) and focused on confirming its factor structure and evaluating aspects of its concurrent, discriminant, and predictive validity. A sample comprising a total of 435 clients from 52 distinct therapy groups at eight different clinical sites in the U.S. and Canada was obtained. Structural equation modeling analyses indicated that a four-factor model had a reasonably good fit to the TFI–S rating data, and it provided indications for further refinement of the constituent items. The analyses resulted in a revised, 19-item measure, the Therapeutic Factors Inventory–19 (TFI–19). Three-level HLM analyses demonstrated that the four factors were sensitive to change in member perceptions over time. Significant and meaningful relationships between the TFI–19 factors and subscales of the Group Climate Questionnaire-Short Form provided support for the concurrent validity of the TFI–19. Two-level HLM analyses identified significant relationships between the TFI–19 factors and posttreatment status on symptomatic and interpersonal distress, thereby supporting the predictive validity of the TFI–19. The findings suggest that the TFI–19 may be a useful instrument to assess group members' perceptions of more global therapeutic factors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

The bilevel structure of the Outcome Questionnaire–45.

The structure of the Outcome Questionnaire–45 (Lambert et al., 2001) was examined in a sample of 1,100 university counseling center clients using confirmatory factor analysis. Specifically, the relative fit of 1-factor, 3-factor orthogonal, 3-factor oblique, 4-factor hierarchical, and 4-factor bilevel models were examined. Although the 3-factor oblique, 4-factor hierarchical, and 4-factor bilevel models fit the data well, the 4-factor bilevel model fit the data best. The results provided support for the fit of the 4-factor bilevel model where each item loads on 1 of the 3 independent scales of Symptom Distress, Social Role Performance, and Interpersonal Relations, in addition to a nonoverlapping general distress factor. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The pain, depression, and fatigue symptom cluster in advanced breast cancer: Covariation with the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system.

Objective: Neuroendocrine–immune models have been proposed to account for the frequent co-occurrence of pain, depression, and fatigue (PDF) among cancer patients. Design: In a cross-sectional observational study of advanced cancer patients (N = 104), we tested the hypothesis that the PDF cluster covaries with proposed biological mediators: hormones of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. Main Outcome Measures: PDF symptoms were measured using the Brief Pain Inventory, Fatigue Symptom Inventory, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scales. HPA activation was indicated by plasma levels of cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone, and SNS activation was indicated by plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine. Results: Preliminary analyses supported the use of covariance structure modeling to test whether shared variance among hormone levels predicted shared variance among PDF symptoms. Latent variable analysis indicated that neuroendocrine levels predicted PDF (standardized β = .23, p = .039), while controlling for important disease and demographic variables. Conclusion: Previous studies have linked individual symptoms to individual biomarkers. The observed significant paring of the 4 hormones to the PDF cluster provides the first evidence suggestive of stress hormones as a common mechanism for the co-occurrence of pain, depression, and fatigue symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Co–Ni–Zr Phase Diagram in the Zr–ZrCo–ZrNi Region II. Liquidus Surface of the Phase Diagram. Interaction of Alloys with Hydrogen

Powder Metallurgy and Metal Ceramics - The results of microstructural, X-ray diffraction, differential thermal, and electron microprobe analyses of Zr–ZrCo–ZrNi cast alloys were used to...     

What is the latent structure of alcohol use disorders? A taxometric analysis of the Personality Assessment Inventory Alcohol Problems Scale in male and female prison inmates.

Three indicators derived from the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) Alcohol Problems scale (ALC)—tolerance/high consumption, loss of control, and negative social and psychological consequences—were subjected to taxometric analysis—mean above minus below a cut (MAMBAC), maximum covariance (MAXCOV), and latent mode factor analysis (L-Mode)—in 1,374 federal prison inmates (905 males, 469 females). Whereas the total sample yielded ambiguous results, the male subsample produced dimensional results, and the female subsample produced taxonic results. Interpreting these findings in light of previous taxometric research on alcohol abuse and dependence it is speculated that while alcohol use disorders may be taxonic in female offenders, they are probably both taxonic and dimensional in male offenders. Two models of male alcohol use disorder in males are considered, one in which the diagnostic features are categorical and the severity of symptomatology is dimensional, and one in which some diagnostic features (e.g., withdrawal) are taxonic and other features (e.g., social problems) are dimensional. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Perceived work stress and major depression in the Canadian employed population, 20–49 years old.

Data from the Canadian National Population Health Survey (1994–1995) were used to evaluate the associations between work stress and major depression (N?=?7,344). Major depression was evaluated using the World Health Organization's Composite International Diagnostic Interview—Short Form. Work stress was measured by a 12-item scale in 6 dimensions. Significant associations between work stress and major depression were found. Gender may alter the type of work stress that is most strongly associated with major depression: psychological demands for men and physical demands for women. Some forms of work stress were more strongly associated with major depression in smokers than in nonsmokers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Grain boundarues in Ni3Al—II. The dislocation structure of small angle boundaries

The dislocation structure of small angle tilt and twist boundaries in ordered Ni₃Al, with and without boron, was investigated using transmission electron microscopy. Dislocations with Burgers vectors that correspond to anti-phase boundary (APB)-coupled superpartials were found in small angle [001] twist boundaries in both boron-free and boron-doped Ni₃Al, and a small angle [011] tilt boundary in boron-doped Ni₃Al. The boundary structures are in agreement with theoretical models proposed by Marcinkowski and co-workers. The APB energy determined from the dissociation of the grain boundary dislocations was lower than values reported for isolated APBs in Ni₃Al. For small angle twist boundaries the presence of boron reduced the APB energy at the interface until it approached zero. This is consistent with the structure of these boundaries containing small regions of increased compositional disorder in the first atomic plane next to the interface.     

Measuring children's perceptions of their mother's depression: The Children’s Perceptions of Others’ Depression Scale–Mother Version.

Several theoretical perspectives suggest that knowledge of children's perceptions of and beliefs about their parents' depression may be critical for understanding its impact on children. This paper describes the development and preliminary evidence for the psychometric properties of a new measure, the Children's Perceptions of Others' Depression – Mother Version (CPOD-MV), which assesses theoretically and empirically driven constructs related to children's understanding and beliefs about their mothers' depression. These constructs include children's perceptions of the severity, chronicity, and impairment of their mothers' depression; self-blame for their mother's depression; and beliefs about their abilities to deal with their mother's depression. The CPOD-MV underwent two stages of development: (1) a review of the literature to identify key constructs, focus groups to help generate items, and clinicians' ratings on the relevance and comprehensibility of the drafted items and (2) a study of the measure's psychometric properties. The literature review, focus groups, and item-reduction techniques yielded a 21-item measure. Reliability, factor structure, and discriminant, convergent, and concurrent validity were tested in a sample of 10- to 17-year-old children whose mothers had been treated for depression. The scale had good internal consistency; factor structure suggestive of a single construct; and discriminant, concurrent, convergent, and incremental validity, suggesting the importance of measuring children's perceptions of their mothers' depression beyond knowledge of mothers' depression symptom level when explaining which children have the greatest risk for emotional and behavioral problems among children of depressed mothers. These findings support continued development and beginning clinical applications of the scale. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dislocation transformations and the anomalies of deformation characteristics in TiAl—II. The structure of dislocation ensemble: Experiment and theory

Results of an electron microscope investigation of dislocations in TiAl are presented. An analysis made of typical dislocation configurations such as blocked single dislocations and blocked superdislocations-traps for single dislocations. Theoretical models are assigned to the configurations observed. Fundamentals of a phenomenological approach to describe plastic deformation are outlined. This approach enables allowance for dislocation transformations of several types. An analysis of the dislocation transformations is made, with a view to reveal those which may be responsible for the temperature peak of the yield stress. The concepts of the possible structure of the dislocation ensemble in TiAl are formulated.     

Substitutional solutes in AlRu—II. Hardening and correlations with defect structure

Solid solution hardening effects are reported for AlRu-based binary and ternary alloys as a function of off-stoichiometry and of the substitution of the solutes Co and Fe for Ru, and of Ti for Al. Microhardness and thermally stepped flow stress are reported as a function of temperature. Off-stoichiometry and ternary additions both produre hardening except for brittle compositions. In binary alloys the strength of the hardening is consistent with elastic effects of conventional substitutional solute. Ternary alloys are more complicated. Two possibilities are that point defects have paired to produce strong hardening or that superimposed effects have produced partial cancellation of modulus and lattice parameter effects of multiple separate point defects.     

Contact Interaction of Zirconium Diboride with Nickel and Nickel Alloys. II. Contact Interaction in the Zirconium Boride–Nichrome System

Powder Metallurgy and Metal Ceramics - Zirconium boride–nichrome (Ni–20 Cr) interaction at zirconium boride concentration in the charge varying from 3.6 to 60% and at annealing...     

Phase Equilibria in the Ternary Al–Ti–Pt System. II. Liquidus Surface of the Al–Ti–Pt System in the Compositions Range 0–50 at.% Pt

Powder Metallurgy and Metal Ceramics - The liquidus surface of the Al–Ti–Pt system has been constructed for the first time on the composition triangle based on studies of the structure...     

Predicting expressed emotion: A study with families of obsessive–compulsive and agoraphobic outpatients.

The authors used structural equation modeling to examine expressed emotion (EE) in relatives of outpatients with panic disorder with agoraphobia (n?=?42) or obsessive–compulsive disorder (n?=?60). EE was examined as a function of patients' illness and personality and as a function of characteristics of relatives themselves. EE was operationalized in terms of hostility on the Camberwell Family Interview (C. E. Vaughn & J. P. Leff, 1976) and patients' ratings of their relatives' criticism (perceived criticism). Key findings include the identification of a characteristic of the relative (self-reported angry thoughts, feelings, and behaviors) that is directly linked to both hostility toward the patient and to perceived criticism, as well as a direct path between relatives' low rates of observed problem solving and their hostility toward the patient. Patient Pathology predicted perceived criticism but not observer-rated hostility. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Detecting symptom exaggeration in combat veterans using the MMPI–2 symptom validity scales: A mixed group validation.

Although validity scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2 (MMPI–2; J. N. Butcher, W. G. Dahlstrom, J. R. Graham, A. Tellegen, & B. Kaemmer, 1989) have proven useful in the detection of symptom exaggeration in criterion-group validation (CGV) studies, usually comparing instructed feigners with known patient groups, the application of these scales has been problematic when assessing combat veterans undergoing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) examinations. Mixed group validation (MGV) was employed to determine the efficacy of MMPI–2 exaggeration scales in compensation-seeking (CS) and noncompensation-seeking (NCS) veterans. Unlike CGV, MGV allows for a mix of exaggerating and nonexaggerating individuals in each group, does not require that the exaggeration versus nonexaggerating status of any individual be known, and can be adjusted for different base-rate estimates. MMPI–2 responses of 377 male veterans were examined according to CS versus NCS status. MGV was calculated using 4 sets of base-rate estimates drawn from the literature. The validity scales generally performed well (adequate sensitivity, specificity, and efficiency) under most base-rate estimations, and most produced cutoff scores that showed adequate detection of symptom exaggeration, regardless of base-rate assumptions. These results support the use of MMPI–2 validity scales for PTSD evaluations in veteran populations, even under varying base rates of symptom exaggeration. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Contact Interaction of Zirconium Diboride with Nickel and its Alloys. I. The Features of Contact Interaction in the ZrB2–Ni System

Powder Metallurgy and Metal Ceramics - The interaction in the ZrB2–Ni system with change in the ZrB2 content from 3.5 to 75 wt.% has been studied. It is shown that the process occurs through...     

China's foreign trade value of major nonferrous metals in the first half of 1999 in comparison with 1998

b,.SourCe二OhinaOuartG,1一日Port一208467290 2678公23890706682533987679 公005 2砧砧1 3487 2570公5435 8335 322 4公1 2748 公885 22llL际日.O之S甘白SExPort 2823474 公48216739公85032曲394公828087346 5533 公33砧00353 3874 2371公1240 公956 公320 盛400 2诀70 公28 1999Ouart.,2一弓P0423756公50546 3527公669公21曰7073320011公6304 公253 必574 500 36公222707 9369 355 632 3439 7公3 19 -047ExPort 2261 8075 曰237228341公9482公7公O209621公2997 4906 2911公6333 5265 3587149公China's foreign trade value of ma…