Measuring desire for control of health care processes.

Conducted 3 known-groups studies with 418 Ss to obtain discriminant validity information among potential self-report measures (a health opinion survey, a situation-specific desire for control scale, and a generalized desire for control scale) of the construct desire for control over health care processes. In Study 1, types of preparation for childbirth were investigated, and in Studies 2 and 3, choice of a place to die and signing a living will were examined. Results indicate that none of the measures adequately distinguished Ss who had signed a living will (or intended to) from Ss who did not intend to sign one. The best discriminator of a choice of a place to die (hospital vs home or hospice) and of type of preparation for childbirth (Lamaze vs other types of classes vs no classes) was the Information subscale of the health opinion survey. The generalized and specific desire for control scales did not significantly help to discriminate among these groups. Correlations of these measures with demographic variables are discussed. (37 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cognitive-behavioral and pharmacologic interventions for hyperactive boys: Comparative and combined effects.

Assessed the effects of 2 interventions—reinforcement and reinforced self-evaluation—on the positive social behavior of 24 8–13 yr old hyperactive males to test the hypothesis that reinforced self-evaluation would produce greater positive social behavior in Ss. Comparisons between Ss receiving methylphenidate (5–40 mg/day) and Ss receiving placebo were also conducted to clarify the effects of stimulant medication on Ss' social behavior. The primary outcome measures were direct observations of appropriate and negative social interactions. Results indicate that both methylphenidate and reinforced self-evaluation were superior to the contrast treatments. When the effects of the 4 treatment combinations were rank ordered, medication plus cognitive-behavioral self-evaluation proved optimal; placebo plus reinforcement alone was significantly worse than all other conditions. Medication enhanced the accuracy of Ss' self-evaluation. Findings are discussed in the context of the need for intervention with the social and interpersonal difficulties of hyperactive children. (46 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Refurbishment management practices in the shipping and construction industries — lessons to be learned

The management of refurbishment work in both sectors is complex, highly specialized and contains elements of works which are unique to refurbishment and which are different from new work. Ship refurbishment clients are better informed and more knowledgeable about refurbishment processes and products than construction clients and are more involved in the planning and decision making process. The authors claim that there is very little evidence of formal or structured processes of managing risks and uncertainty in refurbishment, in both sectors, especially the quantification and evaluation of risks. There is also an urgent need for educators and refurbishment organizations to address the issue of under-provision of refurbishment management courses.     

The Inverse Problem in Electrocardiography: A Model Study of the Effects of Geometry and Conductivity Parameters on the Reconstruction of Epicardial Potentials

An idealized, analytic model using spherical harmonics was developed to analyze the effects of variations in torso geometry and volume conductivity parameters on the recovery of epicardial potentials from torso potentials. The model was also used to analyze the effects of these variations on individual terms in the orthogonal series expansion. The ability to reconstruct separate, local electrical events on the epicardium was examined under the following simulated situations: 1) all conductivity and geometry parameters were known accurately, 2) the conductivity of individual torso tissue layers was varied, 3) the torso-air boundary was eliminated (the "infinite medium" assumption), 4) the heart position was not accurately known, and 5) the heart size was not accurately known. Variation in conductivity and geometry parameters was found to exert a quantitative and qualitative effect on the amplitude, resolution, and position of the reconstructed epicardial maxima and minima. Significant differences were found in the ability of the inverse procedure to recover epicardial potentials resulting from posterior as opposed to anterior myocardial sources. Important conclusions regarding the narrow allowance for error in heart size and position, and the relative contributions of the torso tissue layer conductivities can provide guidelines for inverse reconstruction of epicardial potentials with a realistic model utilizing the true geometry.     

Sustainable reference methodology for energy end-use efficiency data in the EU

One of the most important goals of the European energy policy involves the implementation of energy-efficiency measures in large scale so as to promote sustainable development in the European Union (EU) level. The multidimensional character of energy end-use efficiency (EEE) necessitates the collection of a number of related data, apart from the performance and system parameters data, such as socio-economic (e.g., employment, turnover) and Research and Development (R&D) expenditures. Moreover, improved co-ordination of EEE programmes and policies of the community and the member states so as a unified acceptable system to be developed for the monitoring of the EEE data with respect to the existing targets is of significant importance. Even though data-gathering efforts have been implemented, a lot of fragmented data and deduced findings are currently available, which sometimes lack consistency and verification. In this context, the main aim of the paper is to present a sustainable reference methodology for validating EEE data in EU, through the review of existing approaches and methods, defining of most relevant inconsistencies and gaps and provision of recommendations for improvements in EEE data aggregation and statistical interpretation, taking into consideration the related analysis of statisticians, energy technology experts and energy socio-economists.     

Chemical modification of proteins. Part 12. Effect of succinylation on some physico-chemical and functional properties of the albumin fraction from rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)

The effect of succinylation on native rapeseed albumin was studied using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), isoelectric focusing, viscometry, turbidimetry and by investigation of some functional properties (heat-induced aggregation, emulsifying and foaming properties). The protein can be quickly modified with a relatively small excess of succinic anhydride. A 98% succinylation of the protein amino groups could be attained. The PAGE patterns point out a relatively high heterogeneity of the succinylated protein. The isoelectric focusing shows, however, a concentration of the succinylated protein fractions in a near pI range (pH 4.45 to 4.60). The intrinsic viscosity [η] of the native albumin drops after a 50% succinylation from 0.15 dl· g^?1 to 0.06–0.07 dl. g¹. Increasing the degree of succinylation to 88% increases [η] to 0.09 dl· g^?1. The native albumin possesses excellent whipping properties and high foam stability. Succinylation did not improve the foam capacity but decreases the foam stability. The emulsifying properties could not be improved by succinylation. The heat-induced aggregation of the rapeseed albumin in dilute solution is inhibited by a moderate or high succinylation.     

Comments on Henry Friedman's (2002) review of Arnold Goldberg's Being of Two Minds.

This commentary is a response to a review by H. Friedman (see record 2002-08457-006) of Arnold Goldberg's (2000) book Being of Two Minds: The Vertical Split in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy (see record 1999-02973-000). The writer argues against Friedman's contention that Goldberg is judgmental and not empathic toward his misbehaving patients, that he does not appreciate the importance of his own subjectivity as context for the patient's splitting, and that he is authoritarian regarding both the need and direction of change in requiring the patient give up the misbehavior. Last, Friedman erroneously criticizes Goldberg for assuming all marital infidelity is misbehavior, whereas Goldberg clearly makes the distinction between the larger category of bad behavior and actions specified as behavior disorder. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Assessing children's competence: Mothers' and teachers' ratings of competent behavior.

The purposes of this study were to test the replicability of the factor structure of the Health Resources Inventory (HRI; E. L. Gesten [see PA, Vol 57:7209]) for teachers, to describe the factor organization of the HRI when used with parents, and to assess the strength of agreement between parents' and teachers' views of children's competence. Parents' ratings were available for 269 children (ages 4 to 12 years), and teachers' ratings were gathered for a subset of 102. Analysis of teachers' responses confirmed a 5-factor structure of the HRI. The factor structure for mothers closely mirrored that of teachers. The similarity of factor structure argues for the usefulness of the HRI in assessing children's competence at home and school. The relatively modest correlation between mothers' and teachers' ratings suggests possible setting differences in children's behavior and/or variance related to rater source. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Quality-of-life measures: Hospital interview versus home questionnaire.

Used measures adapted from social survey research to assess the quality of life of 33 18–55 yr old end-stage renal disease patients in a 2-wk test–retest design that varied both location and format of administration (hospital interview vs home self-administered questionnaire). Results indicate that quality of life is a stable construct and support the usefulness of questionnaire quality-of-life measures for evaluating medical interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)