The case of Gary: Alternatives perhaps, incapable no.

Responds to M. F. Hoyt's (see record 1994-18395-001) critique of T. F. Van Denburg and E. J. Van Denburg's (see record 1993-06526-001) article on premature termination of therapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A component analysis of cognitive-behavioral treatment for depression.

The purpose of this study was to provide an experimental test of the theory of change put forth by A. T. Beck, A. J. Rush, B. E Shaw, and G. Emery ( 1979 ) to explain the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CT) for depression. The comparison involved randomly assigning 150 outpatients with major depression to a treatment focused exclusively on the behavioral activation (BA) component of CT, a treatment that included both BA and the teaching of skills to modify automatic thoughts (AT), but excluding the components of CT focused on core schema, or the full CT treatment. Four experienced cognitive therapists conducted all treatments. Despite excellent adherence to treatment protocols by the therapists, a clear bias favoring CT, and the competent performance of CT, there was no evidence that the complete treatment produced better outcomes, at either the termination of acute treatment or the 6-month follow-up, than either component treatment. Furthermore, both BA and AT treatments were just as effective as CT at altering negative thinking as well as dysfunctional attributional styles. Finally, attributional style was highly predictive of both short- and long-term outcomes in the BA condition, but not in the CT condition. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Measuring the benefits and costs of utility conservation and load management programmes

We have learned much less than we could have from utility operation of conservation and load management programmes. Our general ignorance concerning the performance (ie benefits and costs) of these programmes exists because we have not devoted sufficient resources to careful evaluations of past and present programmes. We need to build evaluation into the programme planning and implementation process and we should use actual electricity and gas bills to measure programme performance. Finally, we should conduct well designed experiments to learn what does and does not work.     

On the facet-to-facet property of solutions to convex parametric quadratic programs

In some of the recently developed algorithms for convex parametric quadratic programs it is implicitly assumed that the intersection of the closures of two adjacent critical regions is a facet of both closures; this will be referred to as the facet-to-facet property. It is shown by an example, whose solution is unique, that the facet-to-facet property does not hold in general. Consequently, some existing algorithms cannot guarantee that the entire parameter space will be explored. A simple modification, applicable to several existing algorithms, is presented for the purpose of overcoming this problem. Numerical results indicate that, compared to the original algorithms for parametric quadratic programs, the proposed method has lower computational complexity for problems whose solutions consist of a large number of critical regions.     

Coaching at the top.

Presents a systems-oriented approach to the leadership development of top-level executives. A structured program is described that is designed to have a positive impact at the organizational level through focused work with the individual client. Leadership effectiveness is seen as strongly influenced by the individual's past, personal life, and work environment. Comprehensive information gathered from the client's work life and personal life increases understanding of behaviors that influence performance, and thereby fosters change. Development is perceived from a holistic point of view, with benefits to the organization accruing through increased effectiveness in any areas of the client's life. A case example (of a 40-yr-old male) is given to illustrate how this approach is put into effect. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Synthesis and reactions of polytetrahydrofuran with thiolanium end groups

Living polytetrahydrofuran can be terminated with thiolane to form the corresponding thiolanium-terminated polymers. The thus obtained monotelechelic or ditelechelic polymers are unreactive towards water, but can selectively couple with charged nucleophiles by a nucleophilic ring-opening reaction of the terminal thiolanium ions. This process has been used to prepare well-defined homopolymers such as star polymers, segmented polymers or model networks.     

Excesses of the normalization concept.

Comments on S. Landesman and E. C. Butterfield's (see record 1988-01920-001) review of the normalization/deinstitutionalization controversy in the mental retardation field. It is argued that by basing their position on the rules of evidence, the published literature, and rational inference, the authors were unable to give a full account of the ideologues who currently dominate the extremes of the controversy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Definitely not a breeze: Extending an operant model of effective supervision to teams.

To identify what leaders ought to do to orchestrate optimal team performance, an expanded model of effective supervision was tested in a setting combining realism, control, and clear-cut outcomes. The components of the empirically based operant model—monitoring and consequences—were extended to tasks requiring the integration of team efforts. A sailboat regatta was arranged, with series standings as the primary measure of supervisory effectiveness. Using the Operant Supervisory Team Taxonomy and Index, trained observers recorded skippers' (N?=?19) actions. As predicted, racing success correlated significantly (p?r?=?–.51 and –.47, respectively) during the actual races. The relationship between the model's two critical behaviors and an unfiltered measure of effectiveness has implications for the group and leadership literatures as well as for management practices. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A consciousness-sampling analysis of test anxiety and performance.

To evaluate cognitive-interference, reassertion, and reaction-to-performance models of test anxiety, 82 university students completed the Test Anxiety Scale, provided state measures of anxiety just before and after a course examination, described their preparation for the test, and reported thought content and state anxiety up to 6 times during the test. Test Anxiety Scale scores were predictive of pre- and posttest state anxiety but not performance or problem-solving thought frequency during the test. Thought content was significantly but weakly correlated with performance, which was well correlated with posttest state anxiety but not with pretest anxiety. Pretest state anxiety was virtually uncorrelated with posttest state anxiety, with the correlations gradually declining during the test. Question-answering thought content correlated inversely with anxiety during the test. There was no group for whom anxiety appeared to facilitate performance. Preparation correlated only with performance. Results appear inconsistent with a cognitive-interference interpretation of test anxiety and suggest that, in the naturalistic setting used, anxiety is more clearly an effect than a cause of poor performance. (39 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Short Communication: application of a surrogate material in assessing the impact of porosity on re‐ignition of wood‐based materials

Re‐ignition behaviour of charred solid fuels after extinction by water is studied. In this communication the effect of material porosity on re‐ignition is investigated. A surrogate ceramic material is used so as to separate the pyrolysis and combustion processes from those associated with heat transfer. Experimental data are reported for different sample thickness and porosity, and varying heat flux and water application time. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.