Family preservation using multisystemic therapy: An effective alternative to incarcerating serious juvenile offenders.

Multisystemic therapy (MST) delivered through a community mental health center was compared with usual services delivered by a Department of Youth Services in the treatment of 84 serious juvenile offenders and their multiproblem families. Offenders were assigned randomly to treatment conditions. Pretreatment and posttreatment assessment batteries evaluating family relations, peer relations, symptomatology, social competence, and self-reported delinquency were completed by the youth and a parent, and archival records were searched at 59 wks postreferral to obtain data on rearrest and incarceration. In comparison with youths who received usual services, youths who received MST had fewer arrests and self-reported offenses and spent an average of 10 fewer weeks incarcerated. In addition, families in the MST condition reported increased family cohesion and decreased youth aggression in peer relations. The relative effectiveness of MST was neither moderated by demographic characteristics nor mediated by psychosocial variables. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reactor modelling for electrochemical processes

This paper presents a relatively straightforward approach to the modelling of electrochemical reactors operated in batch or continuous modes. The models are based on ideal flow assumptions of either well-mixed or plug flow and incorporate reaction rate models based on electrochemical kinetics and mass transport at one electrode. General characteristics of the reactor models are described, particularly with regard to the need for good mass transport in metal recovery applications. An example is given on the use of the model in the recovery of a heavy metal (Cd²⁺) from an acidified solution containing Cd(II) and Fe(III) ions. The reaction rate model is based on experimental data.     

The mathematics of motif combination and their use for functional simulation

The concept of Motif Combination was introduced in the French Automotive industry's R&W standard. There has however been no formal mathematical theory for the technique of motif combination. This paper sets out to develop this theory. The main result of the paper is a set of four properties that the motif combination rules must satisfy in order to have certain desirable metrological properties.Motif methods may well provide useful techniques which complement rather than replace the traditional approach based on a mean line. It was found that many functional problems could be simulated very efficiently using motif methods. Examples of functional simulation via motif combination are illustrated in the paper.     

Stepwise-Graded Si3N4–SiC Ceramics with Improved Wear Properties

The processing of stepwise graded Si₃N₄/SiC ceramics by pressureless co-sintering is described. Here, SiC (high elastic modulus, high thermal expansion coefficient) forms the substrate and Si₃N₄ (low elastic modulus, low thermal expansion coefficient) forms the top contact surface, with a stepwise gradient in composition existing between the two over a depth of ∼1.7 mm. The resulting Si₃N₄ contact surface is fine-grained and dense, and it contains only 2 vol% yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) additive. This graded ceramic shows resistance to cone-crack formation under Hertzian indentation, which is attributed to a combined effect of the elastic-modulus gradient and the compressive thermal-expansion-mismatch residual stress present at the contact surface. The presence of the residual stress is corroborated and quantified using Vickers indentation tests. The graded ceramic also possesses wear properties that are significantly improved compared with dense, monolithic Si₃N₄ containing 2 vol% YAG additive. The improved wear resistance is attributed solely to the large compressive stress present at the contact surface. A modification of the simple wear model by Lawn and co-workers is used to rationalize the wear results. Results from this work clearly show that the introduction of surface compressive residual stresses can significantly improve the wear resistance of polycrystalline ceramics, which may have important implications for the design of contact-damage-resistant ceramics.     

伍尔弗汉普敦市中心的公共空间概念设计，英国

2004年伍尔弗汉普敦(Wolverhampton)市政府授权伟信公司对该市中心公共空间进行全面改造概念设计和进一步的详细设计。市政府希望制定发展策略框架及实施步骤,以建造能够顺应大众和社团活动的核心主题公共空间。这些主题包括:安全城市、绿色城市、促进经济发展的城市等。现状是一些靠近大学区的地方出现的新的广场,如知识广场(LearningQuarter)、圣约翰城市村(StJohns’UrbanVillage),以改变城市中心看起来非常陈旧的状态。伟信公司接受了这项挑战,从深入城市的“表皮”入手,剖析城市的特征,以及所面临的问题,逐街分析。正如很多城市中心…     

The "difference of means" may not be the "effect size".

Comments on J. Cohen's (see record 1995-12080-001) article with the purpose of restraining enthusiasm for the report of effect size in the form of a confidence interval for the differences of means, rather than the null hypothesis significance testing declaration that the effect size is not zero. Three examples are given in which measurement of effect sizes in the scale of the dependent variable tells researchers little that they need to know. It is suggested that better information might be obtained from effect sizes measured using the d statistic. (N. Cliff; see record 1994-08169-001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Global optimization with multivariate adaptive regression splines.

This paper presents a novel procedure for approximating the global optimum in structural design by combining multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) with a response surface methodology (RSM). MARS is a flexible regression technique that uses a modified recursive partitioning strategy to simplify high-dimensional problems into smaller yet highly accurate models. Combining MARS and RSM improves the conventional RSM by addressing highly nonlinear high-dimensional problems that can be simplified into lower dimensions, yet maintains a low computational cost and better interpretability when compared to neural networks and generalized additive models. MARS/RSM is also compared to simulated annealing and genetic algorithms in terms of computational efficiency and accuracy. The MARS/RSM procedure is applied to a set of low-dimensional test functions to demonstrate its convergence and limiting properties.     

Self-efficacy and work-related performance: The integral role of individual differences.

The present study estimated the unique contribution of self-efficacy to work-related performance controlling for personality (the Big 5 traits), intelligence or general mental ability, and job or task experience. Results, based on a meta-analysis of the relevant literatures, revealed that overall, across all studies and moderator conditions, the contribution of self-efficacy relative to purportedly more distal variables is relatively small. Within moderator categories, there were several cases in which self-efficacy made unique contributions to work-related performance. For example, self-efficacy predicted performance in jobs or tasks of low complexity but not those of medium or high complexity, and self-efficacy predicted performance for task but not job performance. Overall, results suggest that the predictive validity of self-efficacy is attenuated in the presence of individual differences, though this attenuation does depend on the context. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On the Auditory Modality Superiority Effect in Serial Recall: Separating Input and Output Factors.

The modality effect in immediate recall refers to superior recall of the last few items within lists presented in spoken as opposed to printed form. The locus of this well-known effect has been unclear. N. Cowan, J. S. Saults, E. M. Elliott, and M. Moreno (2002) introduced a new method to distinguish between the effects of input serial position, output serial position, and the number of items yet to be recalled and found that large modality effects occurred only in conditions in which delay and interference at output (from items already recalled) was high. The authors replicated that finding, even when the response period included output interference acoustically similar to the spoken stimuli to be recalled. However, the authors found that output delay and interference act only by lowering the level of performance to a more sensitive range. The modality effect thus originates during encoding of the list to be recalled, not during output. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)