Comparison of therapeutic factors in group and individual treatment processes.

Group and individual treatments have equivalent outcomes, but little is understood about the therapeutic processes in these treatment modalities; therefore, similarities and differences in the therapeutic process were explored. Critical incident obtained from 20 individual and 20 group clients were rated on 4 dimensions of session impact: emotional awareness–insight, relationship–climate, other- versus self-focus, and problem definition–change) using the Group Counseling Helpful Impacts Scale (D. A Kivlighan, Jr., K. D. Multon, & D. F. Brossart, 1996). The findings of this study indicate different therapeutic processes in group and individual treatments. Ratings of relationship–climate and other-versus self-focus impacts were higher in the group participants' critical incident forms, whereas emotional awareness–insight and problem definition–change ratings were higher in the critical incident reports of individual treatment participants. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Post-Synthesis Modification of SSZ-35 Zeolite to Enhance the Selectivity in p-Xylene Alkylation with Isopropyl Alcohol

Modification of textural and chemical properties of SSZ-35 was investigated in respect to the catalytic behavior of this zeolite in p-xylene alkylation with isopropyl alcohol. Acidic treatment of the external surface of SSZ-35 crystals resulted in a decrease in the void volume of the zeolite and in the concentration of acid sites mainly located on the external surface. This was evidenced from the FTIR spectra of adsorbed pyridine and 2,6-di-tert-butylpyridine. The modification caused a significant increase in the selectivity to 2,5-dimethylcumene while the p-xylene conversion decreased only very slightly.     

TUN, IMF and -SVR Zeolites; Synthesis, Properties and Acidity

The effect of synthesis conditions on the preparation and properties of three novel zeolites TUN, IMF, and -SVR was investigated and compared with MFI. X-ray powder diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, chemical analysis, sorption measurements, and scanning electron microscopy were employed to characterize the textural and chemical properties of these zeolites. FTIR spectroscopy in combination with pyridine as probe molecule was used to describe the type, concentration and acid strength of these zeolites. Zeolite -SVR was synthesized with Si/Al ratios higher than 100 in contrast with TUN and IMF having Si/Al ratios about 20–30, respectively. TUN, MFI and IMF zeolites exhibit similar concentrations of Brønsted and Lewis acid sites and also similar acid strength of Brønsted sites. In contrast, the presence of one vacancy/unit cell in the case of -SVR zeolite substantially changes its acidic properties. Generally, zeolites TUN and IMF exhibit similar acidic properties in terms of acid strength and Brønsted to Lewis acid site ratio like MFI and due to their slightly larger pores higher activities in catalytic reactions are expected.     

What drives public acceptance of nanotechnology?

How do the risks and benefits of nanotechnology, as viewed by the public, compare with those associated with other technologies such as genetically modified organisms, stem cells, biotechnology and nuclear power? And when deciding to use a specific nanotechnology product, will consumers consider the risks, the benefits, or both? We report the first large-scale empirical analyses of these questions.     

Cognitive Performance and Autonomic Reactivity in Abstinent Drug Abusers and Nonusers.

In this study the authors compared the performance of abstinent drug abusers (n = 21) and nonuser control participants (n = 20) in neurocognitive and emotional functions by use of the Rogers Decision Making Task, Gambling Task, Emotional Stroop, impulsivity continuous performance task (CPT), and vigilance CPT. Skin conductance (SC) and heart rate (HR) monitoring was synchronized with task performance. Groups showed similar performance for vigilance, impulsivity, and emotional interference; however, drug abusers showed stronger SC responses. Drug abusers performed more poorly on the Gambling and Rogers Decision Making Tasks. When making risky decisions, drug abusers showed significantly less increase in SC activity than controls and exhibited lower HRs throughout performance on all tasks. In conclusion, complex tasks involving decision making, sensitivity to consequences, and emotional regulation discriminated between drug abusers and controls. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Application of the social action theory to understand factors associated with risky sexual behavior among individuals in residential substance abuse treatment.

Risky sexual behavior (RSB) is a leading cause of HIV/AIDS, particularly among urban substance users. Using the social action theory, an integrative systems model of sociocognitive, motivational, and environmental influences, as a guiding framework, the current study examined (1) environmental influences, (2) psychopathology and affect, (3) HIV-related attitudes and knowledge, and (4) self-regulatory skills/deficits as factors associated with event-level condom use (CU) among a sample of 156 substance users residing at a residential substance abuse treatment center (M age = 41.85; SD = 8.59; 75% male). RSB was assessed using event-level measurement of CU given its advantages for improved accuracy of recall and ability for an examination of situational variables. A logistic regression predicting event-level CU indicated the significant contribution of partner type (environmental influences), less favorable attitudes towards condoms (HIV-related attitudes and knowledge), and higher levels of risk-taking propensity (self-regulatory skills/deficits) in predicting greater likelihood of not having used a condom at one's most recent sexual encounter. This study contributes to the literature examining HIV risk behaviors among substance users within a theory-driven model of risk. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Nonelectric Applications of Fusion

This is the final report of a panel set up by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee (FESAC) in response to a charge letter from Dr. James Decker, Acting Director of the DOE Office of Science. In that letter, Dr. Decker asked FESAC to consider whether the Fusion Energy Sciences program should broaden its scope and activities to include non-electric applications of intermediate-term fusion devices. This report, submitted to FESAC July 31, 2003, and subsequently approved by them (Appendix B), presents FESAC's response to that charge.     

Maintenance strategies for routing indexes

Query processing in large-scale unstructured P2P networks is a crucial part of operating such systems. In order to avoid expensive flooding of the network during query processing so-called routing indexes are used. Each peer maintains such an index for its neighbors. It provides a compact representation (data summary) of data accessible via each neighboring peer. An important problem in this context is to keep these data summaries up-to-date without paying high maintenance costs. In this paper, we investigate the problem of maintaining distributed data summaries in P2P-based environments without global knowledge and central instances. Based on a classification of update propagation strategies, we discuss several approaches to reduce maintenance costs and present results from an experimental evaluation.     

A temporal perspective of the computer game development process

Abstract.  This paper offers an insight into the games software development process from a time perspective by drawing on an in-depth study in a games development organization. The wider market for computer games now exceeds the annual global revenues of cinema. We have, however, only a limited scholarly understanding of how games studios produce games. Games projects require particular attention because their context is unique. Drawing on a case study, the paper offers a theoretical conceptualization of the development process of creative software, such as games software. We found that the process, as constituted by the interactions of developers, oscillates between two modes of practice: routinized and improvised, which sediment and flux the working rhythms in the context. This paper argues that while we may predeterminately lay down the broad stages of creative software development, the activities that constitute each stage, and the transition criteria from one to the next, may be left to the actors in the moment, to the temporality of the situation as it emerges. If all development activities are predefined, as advocated in various process models, this may leave little room for opportunity and the creative fruits that flow from opportunity, such as enhanced features, aesthetics and learning.     

Cocaine Abstinence During Methadone Maintenance: Effects of Repeated Brief Exposure to Voucher-Based Reinforcement.

This study determined whether abstinence engendered by intermittent reinforcement might generalize to nonreinforced periods and enhance overall rates of cocaine abstinence among methadone maintenance patients. Participants were randomized to 1 of 3 groups. The quantitative group (n = 14) earned incentives for a 50% decrease in urine benzoylecgonine concentrations; the qualitative group (n = 13) earned incentives for providing urines with concentrations