A further note on "Prognostic scales in schizophrenia".

Replies to commentary by A. Farina (see record 2005-10655-011) on the original article by S. L. Garfield and D. M. Sundland (see record 1966-04456-001) regarding prognostic scales in schizophrenia. Marital status and premorbid personality are discussed as prognostic indicators of improvement in schizophrenia. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Residual shunts after application of the Rushkind occlusion system in closure of persistent ductus arteriosus. Insertion of a second device

From May 1991 to August 1994, we performed transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus with Rashkind umbrella system in 25 patients. In one, the device had embolism, to the right pulmonary artery and was operated 24 hs afterwards without complications. Seven had residual shunts, two had subsequent surgery, two are being followed (one for mild and one for moderate residual shunt). In the other three cases we inserted a second device. We used a 12 mm device in two cases and a 17 mm device in the other. Two cases had total occlusion 24 hrs after and in one had mild residual shunt without clinical repercussion. There were no complications. All had electrocardiographic and clinical improvement, take no medication, and their cardiomegaly had decreased (Cardiac index pre 61 vs post 54%). In conclusion the insertion of a second device is safe and effective alternative for residual shunt after first Rashkind occluder.     

Modified Microtiter count method for viable cell counts from pure cultures and food model samples

A modified Microtiter count method was designed to assess viable cell counts in a rapid, easy, and accurate way. A Spiral plate method was used for comparison with the modified Microtiter count method. There was a strong correlation between the two methods in microbial counts from pure cultures (Escherichia coli O157:H7, R²=0.984; Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis, R²=0.995; and Listeria monocytogenes, R²=0.994) and food samples (R²=0.897). This study suggests that a modified Microtiter count method can be used to determine viable bacterial cell counts.     

Measurements of covariance for cascading gamma rays

An apparatus has been developed to measure covariance and delayed covariance of the counting rates of detectors of the separate members of gamma ray cascades. This method offers advantages over conventional time coincidence measurements, particularly for long lived intermediate nuclear states. The method has been used to measure the half-life of the 304 keV level (16.9±0.6 ms) and anisotropy (0.543±0.002) of the 121–280 keV gamma cascade in ⁷⁵As produced by the radioactive decay of ⁷⁵Se. Other applications are discussed.     

Further comments on "Dropping Out of Treatment": Reply to Baekeland and Lundwall.

Challenges some of the conclusions reached by F. Baekeland and L. Lundwall (see record 1975-32159-001), particularly with reference to adult individual outpatient psychotherapy. Specific exception is taken to the conclusions drawn with regard to age and sex as predictors of dropping out of treatment. The importance of considering base rates is also stressed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Microwave Heating Effect on the Dog Thyroid Gland

Dog thyroid glands were exposed in vivo to 2450 MHz, CW microwave fields for 2 h using a dielectrically loaded waveguide applicator. Specific absorption rates of 58, 131, and 190 W/kg in the center of the thyroid gland resulted in temperatures of 38-39°C, 40-42°C, and 44-46°C, respectively. An increase in the heated gland's thyroid hormone, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), release rate was observed. This result demonstrates that the dog thyroid gland can be directly stimulated by microwave heating.     

Mechanical strengthening and impurity precipitation behaviour for divalent cation-doped alkali halides

The yield stress of NaCl doped with Ca, Sr, Mn, Pb and Cd, KCl doped with Pb, and KBr doped with Sr and Pb, has been investigated as a function of the state of aggregation of the impurity. For all systems the yield-stress remains constant during isothermal annealing treatments if the impurity concentration is below a threshold value dependent on the material. At higher concentrations two opposite behaviours have been found. For systems where a coherent Suzuki phase has been detected (NaCl-Cd and NaCl-Mn) or is expected to occur (KCl-Pb, KBr-Pb and KBr-Sr) a marked softening is observed during annealing. On the other hand, a marked hardening appears for NaCl-Pb, NaCl-Ca and NaCl-Sr, where the stable dihalide phase has been shown to form. Mechanisms responsible for the reported behaviour are proposed and briefly discussed.Partially supported under grant no. AFOSR-79-0115.     

Some further comments on evaluation of outcome in psychotherapy.

Replies briefly to comments by R. M. Leve (see PA, Vol 52:Issue 4) on a previous article concerning the evaluation of outcome in psychotherapy. While acknowledging that the matter of agreement and disagreement among Os is of some significance, the importance of using a variety of different criteria in assessing outcome in psychotherapy is particularly emphasized. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Clinical psychology and the search for identity.

Students "are not given an integrated model with which to identify but are confronted instead by 2 apparently conflicting models—the scientific-research model and the clinical-practitioner model." To resolve the dissonance "most students tend to identify with either the research or the practitioner model, and to blot out or defend… against the other." There are severe identity problems for the clinical psychologist. "… the most pressing need in clinical psychology pertains to a reorganization of training, practice, and research in our approved university settings" to help provide a sound identity for clinical psychology and for eventually allowing a worthwhile contribution to be made to problems of personality maladjustment and change. Psychology requires its own clinical facility where research and practice are intimately related and tied together. "The psychological center would not only emphasize both research and practice, but would demonstrate the mutual interaction and reciprocal relationship of the 2." (17 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Recent discoveries of Dryopithecus shed new light on evolution of great apes

The origin and early evolution of the great ape/human clade (Hominidae) is currently a subject of debate. The controversy is fuelled by the fragmentary nature of the fossils which renders it difficult to determine clearly derived features that permit the recognition of fossil members of this clade. We report here the recent discovery of a facial skeleton and a temporal fragment with the petrosal bone of Dryopithecus laietanus, which provides a way out of an impasse. The lack of the fossa subarcuata is a great ape and human clade synapomorphy, and proves unequivocally that Dryopithecus belongs to this clade. The zygomatic possesses derived characters which reveal that Dryopithecus is related to the Ponginae and not to the African apes/humans, as recently suggested. The remaining morphological features are plesiomorphic and thus provide a good model of a common ancestor of all Hominidae.