Development of a system for categorizing client reactions to therapist interventions.

We developed a measure of client reactions to therapist interventions. The 21 categories of the measure were divided into 14 positive and 7 negative reactions, which differed significantly from each other on client helpfulness ratings. Preliminary validity data indicated that therapist intentions were related to client reactions more for successful cases than unsuccessful cases, pretreatment symptomatology was highly predictive of which reactions the clients reported, there were some predictable changes in reactions across time in treatment, and within-case correlations of reactions with client-rated session depth and smoothness indicated some similarities across cases. We discuss the case-specific nature of client reactions, methodological issues, and the need for greater therapist awareness of client reactions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Beneath the surface of long-term therapy: Therapist and client report of their own and each other's covert processes.

Therapists and clients reported on their own and their perceptions of each other's covert processes in long-term therapy. Therapists had a match rate of .45 for client reactions, with therapists rating match on therapeutic work reactions as helpful. Although 65% of clients left somethimg unsaid (primarily because of avoidance), only 27% of therapists were able to match what clients left unsaid. Of the clients, 46% had secrets (often sexual), primarily because of shame or insecurity. Clients had a match rate of .50 for therapist intentions, with therapists rating match on exploratory and restructuring intentions as helpful and both clients and therapists rating match on assessment intentions as not helpful. Thus, awareness of the other's covert processes had an effect on therapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Therapist perspectives on countertransference: Qualitative data in search of a theory.

A consensual qualitative research strategy was used to examine data from 127 interviews conducted with 8 psychologists immediately following their sessions of brief therapy with 8 clients. Analyses revealed 3 domains relevant to countertransference: origins (including categories of family issues, needs and values, therapy specific issues, and cultural issues), triggers (including categories of content of client material, therapist comparing client with others, change in therapy structure or procedures, therapist assessing progress of therapy, therapist perception of client, and emotions), and manifestations (including categories of approach, avoidance, negative feelings, and treatment planning). The frequency of categories within and across cases was classified, and relationships among categories from the 3 domains were detected, generating hypotheses for future empirical research. Implications for practice, training, and continued research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Therapist retrospective recall impasses in long-term psychotherapy: A qualitative analysis.

Twelve experienced therapists completed a questionnaire, and 8 of the 12 were then interviewed about their experiences with a therapeutic impasse that ended in the termination of therapy. Data were analyzed using a qualitative methodology. Results indicated that most of the clients were anxious and depressed with personality disorders and interpersonal problems. Therapists perceived impasses as having a profound negative impact on both clients and therapists. Variables associated with impasses in a majority of the cases were a client history of interpersonal problems, a lack of agreement between therapists and clients about the tasks and goals of therapy, interference in the therapy by others, transference, possible therapist mistakes, and therapist personal issues. Implications for training, practice, and research are provided. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Impact of microbial transglutaminase on the viscoelastic profile of formulated bread doughs

The effects of microbial transglutaminase (TGM) on the viscoelastic profile of wheat flour doughs when added singly and in combination with hydrocolloids—hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) and a high ester pectin (GENU pectin type BIG, or BIG)—, amylolytic (-amylase) and non amylolytic enzymes (xylanase) and an emulsifier [diacetyl tartaric acid ester of mono-diglycerides (DATEM)] have been investigated by applying response surface analysis to a Draper-Lin small composite design of formulated dough samples. In spite of the major effects on mixing, textural, extensional and viscometric parameters, which were provided by hydrocolloid/surfactant combinations, incorporation of TGM into dough formulas improved some viscoelastic properties. TGM, when added to DATEM and/or HPMC-containing doughs, induced synergistic effects on mixing parameters, resulting in increased water absorption, development time and stability. Highly cohesive doughs with improved water holding capacity and gluten strength during mixing and fermentation, and suitable pasting behaviour during cooking were achieved using TGM/BIG/DATEM mixtures, mainly associated with suitable interactions of the pairs TGM/DATEM and DATEM/BIG.     

Implementation and Field Testing of Characteristics-Based Intersection Queue Estimation Model

This paper proposes and implements a dynamic queue length estimation model at signalized intersections. Based on the continuum principle, this model describes the formation and dissipation of traffic queues at an intersection and the interactions with the signals. The use of a general speeddensity relationship in the model leads to the development of a general mathematical formulation for intersection queue length studies, which allows the model to adapt to changes in traffic and geometric conditions through parameter updating. Field testing of the model has demonstrated initial success. Experience suggests that use of headway and average speed data in density derivation lead to more stable and accurate results than using other traffic data.     

Young-adult malt liquor drinkers: Prediction of alcohol problems and marijuana use.

Malt liquor (ML) is a cheap, high alcohol content beverage that is marketed to appeal to young adults. Findings from the few published studies of ML use suggest that it may be associated with excessive drinking, alcohol problems, and the use of illicit drugs. The authors conducted separate hierarchical multiple regressions to examine the role of ML use and psychosocial variables (e.g., personality, ML motives) in alcohol-related problems and marijuana use. Demographic characteristics served as controls. The sample consisted of 639 (456 men, 183 women) young adults (M = 22.9 years, SD = 4.2) who regularly (≥40 oz/week) consumed ML. ML use significantly and positively predicted alcohol problems, ML-specific problems, and marijuana use, above and beyond their associations with typical alcohol use. Marijuana was the illicit drug of choice, and 46% reported concurrent use of marijuana and ML. Those who concurrently used ML and marijuana began drinking at a younger age and reported more substance use (particularly marijuana) and more alcohol-related problems than did nonconcurrent users. These results suggest that ML use may represent a risk for alcohol problems and marijuana use. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

In vitro studies to assess the antidiabetic,anti-cholinesterase and antioxidant potential of Spergularia rubra

Spergularia rubra is distributed all over the world, being its infusion used as diuretic. In spite of its large use, the antidiabetic, anti-cholinesterase and antioxidant activities of this species have not been assessed and its chemical composition is scarcely known. In the work herein a hydromethanolic extract was studied.