Behavioral rehabilitation of the "treatment-refractory" schizophrenia patient: Conceptual foundations, interventions, and outcome data.

This article describes an intensive, inpatient behavioral rehabilitation program for patients with schizophrenia who have been considered "treatment-refractory" at state hospitals. The program is a public-private partnership involving state and private hospitals and community residence providers. The essential elements of this program are described, along with the conceptual and philosophical bases of its treatment and examples of staff behaviors critical to treatment success. Outcome data are then discussed to emphasize the point that when evidence-based psychological treatment is implemented with this population, outcomes can be positive in most cases, and therefore, the number of treatment-refractory patients is actually far less than is estimated on the basis of response to medication alone. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Properties and structure of elastomeric two-stage emulsion interpenetrating networks

Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) consist of two crosslinked polymers which form a network within a network. Bulk-prepared IPNs are thermosetting and cannot be processed due to the formation of a macroscopic network. Emulsion IPNs, although thermosetting, can be processed as thermoplastic materials. This is due to a special particle-slippage flow mechanism which is practically insensitive to molecular weight. The morphology of the reported latex particles is unique in the sense that very small polystyrene domains are formed by phase-separation of polymerizing styrene added to a seeded flexible polyacrylate latex. Compression or injection moulded specimens of these crosslinked elastomeric materials show significant mechanical properties. Some properties and structural observations using a special electron microscopy technique are described in this article. This method is based on the differential radiation damage to various polymers embedded in ice and can be used as an analytical tool to determine the microstructure of certain multiphase systems.     

Display modulation by Fourier transform: A preferred method

Abstract— A preferred method for determining the grating modulation of a rear‐projection display using a grating image and Fourier analysis is prescribed. This method is insensitive to spatial image noise and is in better correspondence with the response of the human visual system than is the standard technique. This method is not limited to rear‐projection displays and can be applied to any display technology.     

Cytokines and perinatal brain injury

A rapidly expanding body of data provides support for the hypothesis that pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) are expressed acutely in injured brain and contribute to progressive neuronal damage. Little is known about the pathogenetic role of these cytokines in perinatal brain injury. Recent experimental studies have incorporated two closely related in vivo perinatal rodent brain injury models to evaluate the role(s) of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the progression of neuronal injury: a perinatal stroke model, elicited by unilateral carotid artery ligation and subsequent timed exposure to 8% oxygen in 7-day-old rats, and a model of excitotoxic injury, elicited by stereotactic intra-cerebral injection of the selective excitatory amino acid agonist NMDA. Each of these lesioning methods results in reproducible, quantifiable focal forebrain injury at this developmental stage. Acute brain injury, evoked by cerebral hypoxia-ischemia or excitotoxin lesioning, results in transient marked increases in expression of IL-1 beta, and TNF-alpha mRNA in brain regions susceptible to irreversible injury, and there is evidence that pharmacological antagonism of IL-1 receptors can attenuate injury in both models. Recent studies also suggest that complementary strategies, based on pharmacological antagonism of platelet activating factor and on neutrophil depletion can also limit the extent of irreversible injury. In summary, current data suggest that pro-inflammatory cytokines contribute to the progression of perinatal brain injury, and that these mediators are important targets for neuroprotective interventions in the acute post-injury period.     

Oxygen ordering and chain formation in YBa2Cu3Oz

A distinctive aspect of the thermodynamic properties of YBa₂Cu₃O_z is the basal-plane oxygen ordering which leads to the formation of Cu-O chains and the development of orthorhombic phases. Theoretically, this phenomenon may be explained in terms of an Ising Hamiltonian with two types of second-neighbor interactions (ASYNNNI model). This symmetry breaking and ground-state degeneracy lead to kinetically arrested multi-domain structures. This paper reports new simulation results for these mesoscopic features, with specific emphasis on the effects of dopants, elastic deformation, and possible structural phase separation.     

Aggregation attractant of the European elm bark beetle,Scolytus multistriatus

The three components of theScolytus Multistriatus aggregation attractant-4-methyl-3-heptanol (1), -multistriatin (2), and -cubebene (3)-were collected from beetles and elm wood by aeration, solvent extraction of host tissue, or solvent extraction of beetles and beetle parts. Bioassays and analysis of extracts demonstrated that (a) compounds 1 and 2 are produced by virgin females and 3 is host-produced, (b) cessation of the production of 1 is coincident with diminished attractiveness of females after they have been joined by males, (c) the release of 3 from elm wood is augmented by attacking beetles, and (d) the level of 3 is related to the condition of the wood, and fungal growth (particularlyceratocystis ulmi) may lead to increased levels of 3. Compound 1 was concentrated in the upper abdominal area and 2 in the abdomen tips, but neither component was in the hindgut. A gland opening through the vaginal palpi (a pair of sclerotized conical structures) was circumstantially associated with the release of 2. Compounds 1, 2, and 3 are regulatory agents that contribute to the initiation and maintenance of the beetle-elm-microorganism biosystem.Coleoptera:Scolytidae.     

Lightning injury of the tympanic membrane

Lightning injury to the ear is known, but specific reports are lacking. Four patients with tympanic membrane perforations who were managed surgically are reported. Their presentations, evaluations, intraoperative findings, and outcomes are discussed as they relate to the proposed pathogenic mechanisms. The authors' standard wide exposure tympanoplasty approach with two layer tympanic membrane repair is described. The added steps in performing this procedure may be necessary to ensure a good result in this unique group of patients.     

Studying leadership and subdisciplinary structure of scientific disciplines

A new method for the analysis of leadership and subdisciplinary structure of a scientific discipline is discussed. The database consists of lists of participants in international scientific meetings. Disciplinary leaders are identified by means of their frequency of participation. The subdisciplinary structure is mapped by means of cluster analysis of meetings with respect to degree of similarily. The method possesses strengths not shared by citation analysis: in addition to scientists frequently cited in the literature for their contribution to cognitive research programs, it also identifies administrative discipline builders. The method may also represent better the cognitive interests of scientists.Paper presented at the Fourth International Conference on Bibliometrics, Informetrics and Scientometrics in Berlin (Germany), September 11–15, 1993.     

Comment on Kaufman's "Should short-form validity coefficients be corrected?"

As more and more subtests are added to the short form, its validity as determined by McNemar's formula approaches unity, whereas the upper limit to its validity as determined by the corrected formula is the reliability of the Full Scale. This difference seems to correspond to Kaufman's distinction between using the short form as part of the Full Scale and using it as a replacement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A dual-mode internal window management device for energy conservation

The design of a simple energy conserving window management system is described, and its heat transfer characteristics are calculated. The device serves as a quasi-active solar collector during winter daytime, provides added insulation comparable with that of vented storm windows during winter nighttime, and rejects solar heat during summer cooling periods. The problem of avoiding the intensity of direct sun through windows while obtaining essentially all the associated heat is effectively solved with a window system of this type. The results of the numerical modeling show that the dual shade:will be approximately 90% as energy efficient as an unshaded window while intercepting direct sunlight;will save about 40% on energy losses through a single pane window during winter nighttime;will reduce solar heat gain by about 70% during peak-power summer air conditioning periods.