A curriculum based on systems theory

This paper describes an entry-level curriculum based on systems theory that was designed to promote integrated thinking and a shared image of practice among all of the members of an educational community that included students, faculty, and clinicians. Initiated in 1983, the program integrates occupational therapy theory, critical thinking, and knowledge about person-environmental transactions with traditional medical, biological, psychological, and sociological course work to create a unique educational experience. The curriculum model is based on a spiral learning process that encourages integrated thinking. Furthermore, all concepts are systematically tied to the occupation core, the central theme of the program. Fieldwork is used to reinforce ideas presented in the classroom and features discrete learning experiences where students demonstrate their integration of knowledge and skills. In an evaluation of the program, responses from 78 clinician, 51 alumni, and 132 student questionnaires; feedback from 132 fieldwork supervisors; and longitudinal data from 33 alumni confirmed that graduates are critical thinkers who appreciate the diverse needs of clients while demonstrating an appreciation for the curative effect of meaningful, goal-directed activities.     

A brief abstinence test for college student smokers: A feasibility study.

Cigarette smoking among college students is prevalent and correlated with other unhealthy behaviors. Reinforced abstinence (e.g., contingency management) has been demonstrated to be an effective method for reducing substance use in a variety of populations and across a variety of drugs, including cigarettes. Reinforced abstinence has seldom been used specifically targeting a college student population. A Brief Abstinence Test (BAT) has been used to effectively reduce cocaine use among methadone maintenance patients (Robles, Silverman, Preston, Cone, Katz, Bigelow, & Stitzer, 2000). However, no published studies have investigated the use of a BAT to reduce the use of cigarettes. The current study implemented a 3-week intervention (Baseline 1, BAT, and Baseline 2 weeks) for smoking abstinence among college students. Forty-two percent of the sample met abstention criteria during the BAT. Carbon monoxide and urinalysis scores decreased significantly from Baseline 1 to the BAT phase but did not differ significantly from BAT to Baseline 2. These results suggest that the BAT may have utility initiating abstinence in both clinical and research contexts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ambulatory anal surgery: a feasibility study

Because of the current economic situation, ambulatory surgery has become a "modus vivendi" for the surgeon. The aim of this study is to examine the feasibility of anal ambulatory surgery and the results obtained over a period of 12 months. 141 consecutive patients underwent anal surgery: 108 on an ambulatory basis (77%) and 33 were admitted to the hospital (23%). The reasons for admitting the patients were the complexity of the operation in 19 (8 sphincteroplasty, 5 complex fistulae, 3 recto-vaginal fistulae...) emergency procedures in 9 and miscellaneous reasons in 5 patients. All 108 patients operated on an ambulatory basis could be discharged at the end of the day but two, one for urinary retention and another because he underwent a more extensive procedure than first planned. Three more had urinary retention; they were catheterized and discharged on the same day. The four patients (3 women and 1 man) developed urinary retention following spinal anesthesia. Three patients (2.7%) had to come back to the emergency room in the first 24 hours for bleeding from the operative site. One of them had to be transfused and reoperated for hemostasis. In conclusion, ambulatory anal surgery is feasible in a large proportion of cases (77%) with a low rate of complications (7.4%) and low rate of unexpected hospital admission (2.7%). In a specialized colorectal unit, 23% of patients required hospitalization for a longer stay.     

Contingency management interventions for treating the substance abuse of adolescents: A feasibility study.

This article reports on the feasibility of using a contingency management intervention with adolescent smokers that has proven efficacious in adult substance abuse treatment. The study used 8 adolescent participants in an A (1 week)-B (1 week)-A (1 week) reversal design. During the 2 baseline phases, no contingencies were placed on cigarette smoking, and adolescent received money noncontingently. During the experimental intervention week, adolescents received payment contingent on not smoking. The magnitude of reimbursement available during the baseline and intervention was effective in reducing smoking, both in terms of increasing the total number of abstinences and consecutive abstinences. In addition, changes in adolescents' affective states during smoking cessation were found. Anxiety, depression, anger, and fatigue were reported, and these negative states ceased once smoking resumed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

基于分形理论无腹筋混凝土梁的受剪性能

基于裂缝的发展及分布形态,探究无腹筋混凝土梁在不同剪跨比和纵筋配筋率作用下的剪切性能,采用剪跨比分别为1.5、2、2.5和纵筋配筋率分别为1.28%、1.62%、1.99%的9组无腹筋混凝土梁进行四点加载受剪试验,通过应用分形几何理论对试验梁表面的裂缝进行分析,使用盒计数法计算得到分级荷载及极限荷载作用下梁表面裂缝的分形维数,探讨了梁表面分形维数与极限荷载、分级荷载及跨中挠度之间的关系。结果表明:剪跨比与极限荷载及开裂荷载成反比,而纵筋配筋率与极限荷载成正比,但其对于开裂荷载的影响较小。无腹筋混凝土梁不论在分级加载作用下还是极限荷载作用下都具备明显的分形特征,在分级荷载作用下的分形维数在0.964～1.449,在极限荷载作用下的分形维数在1.33附近。分级荷载、跨中挠度与分形维数之间呈现较好的对数关系,分级荷载与分形维数的变化曲线受剪跨比及梁纵筋配筋率的影响具有一定的规律性,而跨中挠度受剪跨比的影响较小,在纵筋配筋率作用下,其曲线的曲率呈现出先增大后减小的趋势,但极限荷载与分形维数之间的关系具有一定的差异性,极限荷载会随着剪跨比的增大呈现出先增大后减小的趋势,随着纵筋配筋率的增大呈现出的差异性较大。      

Basis for decisions on emerging health technology. A Danish feasibility study

The objectives of the feasibility study were to evaluate sources of information for an eventual Danish system for early identification and assessment of emerging health technology, to identify potential users of the system, and to clarify their specific need for information concerning emerging health technology. The methods used were questionnaires to informants within and outside the health services and to decision makers on different levels in the health services, and follow-up telephone interviews. Our study reveals a strong, and to some extent unsatisfied, need among policy makers, planners, and managers in the Danish health services for information concerning emerging health technology. The requested information should in particular concern indication for use, number of patients affected, clinical effectiveness and side effects, running cost, and investments. The time horizon most relevant to the decision makers seems to be only zero to 2 years. Furthermore, we found that numerous sources are available that frequently display information on emerging technology important to the health services. The challenges seem to be to select information of sufficient importance and quality, and to combine information, since very few, if any, single primary sources cover all the requested information. In conclusion, we recommend the establishment of a Danish national system for early identification and assessment of emerging health technology, consisting of a small secretariat that collaborates nationally and internationally, the latter in particular on identification of technology and on development of methods for early assessment.     

一种基于灰色系统理论的分布式信任模型

在开放多Agent系统中,引入信任模型有利于选择出保证收益的交互伙伴,发挥灰色系统理论在解决贫信息、不确定性问题中的优势,构建了GTrust信任模型,设计了对证人推荐行为进行评定的方法,用灰色定权聚类的方法判定对证人的信任,克服证人提供的不准确信息带来的负面影响,指导评价者Agent合理使用来自证人的推荐.仿真实验表明,GTrust忽略了对不准确信息来源的甄别,而是只以实际交互结果为依据的策略,针对复杂的环境是一种切合实际的选择,无论在静态环境中,还是动态环境中,均可以取得好的效果.     

A signal-detection theory based perspective on design of warning

The effects of warnings are analyzed using a distributed signal-detection theory model. It is established that selectivity always increases effectiveness. The implications to optimal warning design for intermittent versus continuous hazards are discussed. The changes in the behavior of the 6 human subjects in response to changes in the warning levels are consistent with the predictions of the model.     

A feasibility study for the removal of copper from solid ferrous scrap

A new approach for the removal of copper from solid ferrous scrap is described. With this proposal, solid ferrous scrap intermingled with copper is brought into contact with molten aluminium, which preferentially dissolves copper. After a duration of 5 to 10 minutes at a temperature of 1018 ± 5 K, steel scrap is removed from the bath, resulting in being free of copper contamination. The present method offers the advantage of far lower costs than any other processes ever suggested for copper removal.     

Modern organization theory: A psychological and sociological study.

Organization theory is the study of the structure and functioning of organizations and the behavior of groups and individuals within them. It is an emerging interdisciplinary quasi-independent science, drawing primarily on psychology and sociology but also on economics and, to a lesser extent, on production engineering. The main lines of development affecting its conceptualization can be traced under 6 headings: (1) management theorists (from Henri Fayol to Wilfred Brown), (2) structural theorists (from Max Weber to Tom Burns), (3) group theorists (from Elton Mayo and Kurt Lewin to Rensis Likert), (4) individual theorists (from the Industrial Fatigue Research Board to March and Simon), (5) technology theorists (F. W. Taylor, Eric Trist, Joan Woodward), and (6) economic theorists (from Alfred Marshall to Robin Marris). Current work is surveyed and certain lessons drawn. (2 p. ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evaluating alliance-focused intervention for potential treatment failures: A feasibility study and descriptive analysis.

This article describes a pilot study evaluating the feasibility of an approach developed to test the efficacy of a therapeutic intervention (brief relational therapy) for patients with whom it is difficult to establish a therapeutic alliance. In the first phase of the study, 60 patients were randomly assigned to either short-term dynamic therapy (STDP) or short-term cognitive therapy (CBT), and their progress in the first eight sessions of treatment was monitored. On the basis of a number of empirically derived criteria, 18 potential treatment failures were identified. In the second phase of the study, these identified patients were offered the option of being reassigned to another treatment. The 10 patients who agreed to switch treatments were reassigned either to the alliance-focused treatment, referred to as brief relational therapy (BRT), or a control condition. For patients coming from CBT, the control condition was STDP. For patients coming from STDP, the control condition was CBT. The results provide preliminary evidence supporting the potential value of BRT as an intervention that is useful in the context of alliance ruptures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Depression and HIV disease in injection drug users: A Spanish language feasibility study.

Developed and tested a mood management intervention to assess its feasibility and effect on mood, drug use, and high-risk behaviors related to HIV in Spanish-speaking injection drug users. Ss were 35 Latino patients at a San Francisco methadone maintenance clinic, 11 of whom agreed to participate. From pretest and posttest interview data, difference scores were computed and analyzed between the participating and nonparticipating comparison groups. The study demonstrated the feasibility of short-term cognitive-behavioral interventions with this Spanish-speaking sample. Results suggest that the intervention moderated the depressive symptoms of the participants, including the HIV positive individuals. No significant changes were found in drug use and HIV-related high-risk behaviors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Shame and resilience in adulthood: A grounded theory study.

Although shame plays a vital role in psychosocial functioning and development, it has also been implicated in several mental health problems, such as depression, suicidal behavior, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Given the potentially debilitating impact of shame on adjustment, an understanding of resilience in the face of this emotion is essential. The purpose of this study was to explore how adults bounce back from significant shame experiences, based on the subjective perspectives of participants. Interviews were conducted with 13 adults who recalled events or situations that elicited intense feelings of shame. Grounded theory was used in the collection and analysis of the data. In the findings, shame is conceptualized as an assault on the self, where the individual's self-concept, social connection, and sense of power and control come under attack. Individuals bounce back from this adversity through a process of self-reconstruction. This process is represented by the core category rebuilding of the self and by 5 interrelated subcategories, including connecting, refocusing, accepting, understanding, and resisting. Implications for counseling and directions for further research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)