Wanted: Champions of psychiatric rehabilitation.

Psychiatric rehabilitation has been shown to significantly impact the course of severe mental illness. Unfortunately, its impact has been muted by organizational barriers that impede implementation of these strategies in many treatment settings. Identifying champions from the ranks of the treatment team who will be responsible for start-up and maintenance of treatment innovations is one of many strategies that helps overcome these barriers. Some psychologists have excellent credentials for assuming the role of champion. Implications for becoming leaders of program development in terms of its impact on the psychologist's role per se are discussed. If more psychologists are to become active leaders in program development in hospital settings, graduate schools need to commit greater resources toward recruiting and training students in this area. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

In Search of a Common Core: A Content Analysis of Interventions to Promote Forgiveness.

This article reviews published methods for promoting forgiveness for a broad range of clinical issues. The review revealed a consensus among applied researchers regarding several broad types of interventions to promote forgiveness, namely, (a) defining forgiveness, (b) helping clients remember the hurt, (c) building empathy in clients for the perpetrator, (d) helping clients acknowledge their own past offenses, and (e) encouraging commitment to forgive the offender. Roughly half of the studies also prescribed interventions to help clients overcome unforgiveness (e.g., bitterness, vengefulness) without explicitly promoting forgiveness. Speculations about how to use forgiveness interventions in sensitive and client-supportive ways are advanced on the basis of the findings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

The electrochromic properties of sputtered nickel oxide films

Electrochromic nickel oxide films were prepared by reactive RF sputtering from a nickel target in an oxygen atmosphere. The films were deposited as a compact 40 nm layer of trivalent nickel oxide, Ni₂O₃. Reduction and oxidation of the films in 1 M KOH resulted in bleaching and coloration, respectively. Voltammetry indicated that the eventual electrochromic reaction involved the β-Ni(OH)₂/β-NiOOH couple. In situ visible spectra showed electrochromic modulation of the transmittance throughout the visible range with a peak change in transmittance of about 60% at a wavelength of 500 nm. In situ spectra in the near-infrared region indicated improved electrochromic switching in this region; the sputtered nickel oxide film exhibited about a 30% change in transmittance in comparison to less than 10% for a similar electroprecipitated nickel hydroxide film. The sputtered nickel oxide films exhibited durable electrochromic switching for over 2500 coloration/bleaching cycles, a significant improvement over the less than 500 switching cycles exhibited by electroprecipitated nickel hydroxide films.     

Formation of nitrogen-containing oligomers by methylglyoxal and amines in simulated evaporating cloud droplets

Reactions of methylglyoxal with amino acids, methylamine, and ammonium sulfate can take place in aqueous aerosol and evaporating cloud droplets. These processes are simulated by drying droplets and bulk solutions of these compounds (at low millimolar and 1 M concentrations, respectively) and analyzing the residuals by scanning mobility particle sizing, nuclear magnetic resonance, aerosol mass spectrometry (AMS), and electrospray ionization MS. The results are consistent with imine (but not diimine) formation on a time scale of seconds, followed by the formation of nitrogen-containing oligomers, methylimidazole, and dimethylimidazole products on a time scale of minutes to hours. Measured elemental ratios are consistent with imidazoles and oligomers being major reaction products, while effective aerosol densities suggest extensive reactions take place within minutes. These reactions may be a source of the light-absorbing, nitrogen-containing oligomers observed in urban and biomass-burning aerosol particles.     

Copper‐Based Nanostructured Coatings on Natural Cellulose: Nanocomposites Exhibiting Rapid and Efficient Inhibition of a Multi‐Drug Resistant Wound Pathogen,A. baumannii,and Mammalian Cell Biocompatibility In Vitro

This paper describes a layer‐by‐layer (LBL) electrostatic self‐assembly process for fabricating highly efficient antimicrobial nanocoatings on a natural cellulose substrate. The composite materials comprise a chemically modified cotton substrate and a layer of sub‐5 nm copper‐based nanoparticles. The LBL process involves a chemical preconditioning step to impart high negative surface charge on the cotton substrate for chelation controlled binding of cupric ions (Cu²⁺), followed by chemical reduction to yield nanostructured coatings on cotton fibers. These model wound dressings exhibit rapid and efficient killing of a multidrug resistant bacterial wound pathogen, A. baumannii, where an 8‐log reduction in bacterial growth can be achieved in as little as 10 min of contact. Comparative silver‐based nanocoated wound dressings–a more conventional antimicrobial composite material–exhibit much lower antimicrobial efficiencies; a 5‐log reduction in A. baumannii growth is possible after 24 h exposure times to silver nanoparticle‐coated cotton substrates. The copper nanoparticle–cotton composites described herein also resist leaching of copper species in the presence of buffer, and exhibit an order of magnitude higher killing efficiency using 20 times less total metal when compared to tests using soluble Cu²⁺. Together these data suggest that copper‐based nanoparticle‐coated cotton materials have facile antimicrobial properties in the presence of A. baumannii through a process that may be associated with contact killing, and not simply due to enhanced release of metal ion. The biocompatibility of these copper‐cotton composites toward embryonic fibroblast stem cells in vitro suggests their potential as a new paradigm in metal‐based wound care and combating pathogenic bacterial infections.     

Raman spectroscopy using a spatial heterodyne spectrometer: proof of concept

The use of a spatial heterodyne interferometer-based spectrometer (SHS) for Raman spectroscopy is described. The motivation for this work is to develop a small, rugged, high-resolution ultraviolet (UV) Raman spectrometer that is compatible with pulsed laser sources and that is suitable for planetary space missions. UV Raman is a particular technical challenge for space applications because dispersive (grating) approaches require large spectrographs and very narrow slits to achieve the spectral resolution required to maximize the potential of Raman spectroscopy. The heterodyne approach of the SHS has only a weak coupling of resolution and throughput, so a high-resolution UV SHS can both be small and employ a wide slit to maximize throughput. The SHS measures all optical path differences in its interferogram simultaneously with a detector array, so the technique is compatible with gated detection using pulsed lasers, important to reject ambient background and mitigate fluorescence (already low in the UV) that might be encountered on a planetary surface where samples are uncontrolled. The SHS has no moving parts, and as the spectrum is heterodyned around the laser wavelength, it is particularly suitable for Raman measurements. In this preliminary report we demonstrate the ability to measure visible wavelength Raman spectra of liquid and solid materials using an SHS Raman spectrometer and a visible laser. Spectral resolution and bandpass are also discussed. Separation of anti-Stokes and Stokes Raman bands is demonstrated using two different approaches. Finally spectral bandpass doubling is demonstrated by forming an interference pattern in both directions on the ICCD detector followed by analysis using a two-dimensional Fourier transform.     

Optimizing Army Sustainability at Fort Bragg: A Case Study Connecting Life-Cycle Cost Analysis with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings

Abstract:

In 2006, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations and Environment announced the Army's desire to transition to the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings rating scheme in an effort to institutionalize sustainable practices across all Army facilities. This article describes an engineering management tool developed for project managers at Fort Bragg's Directorate of Housing and Public Works used to determine the most cost-effective route to building certification and to support the Army goal of sustainability. The results expose practicing engineering managers to a significant issue concerning Army sustainability, where numerous engineering management methods are employed for more effective decision-making. Future research is needed to convert retrofit project life-cycle costs from specific location sources to national values.     

Whatever it takes: a model for community-based services

The Whatever It Takes model is presented as an extension of the medical/rehabilitation model. It is not presented as an alternative to the rehabilitation model, although it does represent an opposition to the manner in which the model is typically implemented in community-based programmes for individuals with acquired brain injury. After brain injury, medical complications persist and a strictly anti-medical model in a community-based programme is unwise. On the other hand, community-based programmes that attempt to treat the individual, or provide rehabilitation services, in the absence of careful consideration of environmental barriers or the need for natural supports, are not likely to meet the long-term community reintegration needs of the individual, and may be unjustly using up finite resources. There are numerous complications associated with living with the effects of acquired brain injury. There also is considerable complexity associated with a health-care system and reimbursement system that emphasize acute care. Given these complexities, and the strong probability that a cure for brain injury is not likely to be found within the next decade, even the most learned professionals in brain injury are likely to say that practical solutions are needed for the present. Most notable is the late Dr Sheldon Berroll, who provided so much leadership to the field, but when asked about solving the day-to-day problems for an individual, would often respond: 'Do whatever it takes'. This advice was not presented in desperation, but rather as practical guidance. We have attempted to describe the whatever it takes approach, and to provide some guidelines for its implementation in community integration programmes.